Hiring Skilled Labor Improves When Everyone Knows Your Sweet Spot

Culture and Trends, Education, Employee Engagement, Franchise, Hiring, Leadership, Managing Young Employees, Skilled Trade, Work Ethic, Workplace Culture

Hank McGuinty is the owner of an HVAC service and installation business in Beeville, Texas (pop. 13,500). His uncanny ability to attract and hire technicians is the envy of all the other owners in this large national chain, and it’s helping him crush his competition. With the ever-diminishing number of skilled workers in every trade – especially in smaller rural communities…

Employee Engagement is Not the Goal; It’s the Starting Point

Autonomy, Core Values, Culture and Trends, Employee Engagement, Eric Chester's Blog, Leadership, Skilled Trade, Workplace Culture

Roy and Beth have been dating for a year. One night after a romantic dinner in a posh restaurant, Roy pretends to drop a napkin on the floor. While reaching down to get it, he falls to one knee, pulls a big, shiny ring out of his coat pocket, and proposes to Beth. Totally caught…

There Ain’t Nothing Sexy ’bout a Blue Collar Job, so Compete on Pride of Workmanship

Career Preparation, Core Values, Culture and Trends, Education, Eric Chester's Blog, Generation Y, Leadership, Managing Young Employees, Retention, Skilled Trade, Training, Workplace Culture2 Comments

Recently my wife commented on how much time I was spending watching the NFL Draft coverage on ESPN.  “You’re a Bronco fan. They don’t pick again for an hour, at least. Are you really that fascinated by who Buffalo selects in the 5th round?” she asked. But there I sat along with 45.7 million other…