The Power of Donuts
Our relationships with trades are important. The market for good tradesmen is small, and we want to work with the best people we can. We have something they want (work), and they have something we want (talent). The equation needs to be balanced and fair. We need to have fair and reasonable expectations for their schedule, but at the same time we want people who will jump to help us when we need us, and who will answer our call before others. There are many other contractors offering them work and the rates are commensurate. How can we make them a better offer?
In no particular order:
We will give them a clean and organized jobsite where they can show up and get to work without hassle. No one wants to show up to wire a house and have to slog through a debris field to find the panel. Furthermore, we have to make it easy to keep it clean by providing brooms and vacuums, empty trash cans, and a full case of trash bags. Let the trades spend their time bringing in the tools and equipment they need to complete the scope.
We make it easy for them to succeed by provided printed and digital copies of the most updated plans along with written notes of any changes. Our projects are often full of changes that fall outside of their contracted scope. Give them a fighting chance of making money on the job.
We treat them with respect and leave the cartoon stereotypes behind. No yelling, no cursing. Bring professionalism.
We always keep them advised of our schedule and ask them to provide us dates they can do the work and the time it will take to do it. We don’t make that up ourselves and then try and hold them to some arbitrary line they had no hand in drawing. We let them tell us the date they can do it, and we make sure we are ready for them on that date, and then we hold them to that date. If we aren’t going to be ready we let them know, we see if we can make it work, but we don’t disrespect them by keeping them in the dark.
The Power of Donuts
Never underestimate the effectiveness of a small gesture of kindness. Our company can afford to buy donuts and coffee or a couple of pizzas for a hardworking crew. If we are on a tight deadline that matters a lot to us, it may not matter that much to the carpenters working for the framing sub. But we can make it matter to them. “If you guys finish this side of the house by lunch, it’s on us” is a much better offer than “finish or else.” Sometimes a gesture need not be tied to a specific deliverable or goal. Sometimes it’s coffee on a cold day. Sometimes it’s just about relationship building. Sometimes its about repairing bridges that needed mending after a very long and challenging rough-in. We need our relationships to function and flourish with the people we work with.
Build it with donuts.