All the gear, no idea

We’re currently in the middle of renovating a Grade 2 listed property. I use ‘we’ in the loosest sense in that most of the works are being carried out by professionals: a builder, carpenter, plumber, electrician, stonemason and a labourer. In fact, my contribution is minimal. I can knock stuff down, scrape bits off here and there and do some painting but really my contribution is general tidying up. Give me a broom, a dustpan and brush and a vacuum cleaner and I can clean up as well as anyone. Probably better actually, come to think of it. It’s a bit of an obsession.

Seeing the team of tradespeople at work, deploying their craft, evidencing their abilities creates the benchmark for what I’m capable of, the obvious skills gaps and ultimately where my limits are.

Or does it? What stands between me and what they do?

Firstly, a simple observation is that they have the right tools for the job. A first fix kit and a second fix kit. Angle grinders, multitools, nail guns, high torque socket sets. The mass of useful equipment that I get to tidy up is mind-blowing. Much of it, a) I have absolutely no idea what it’s for and b) it looks threatening enough to do myself proper damage with. If Screwfix has it, there’s a version of it somewhere in my house. At some point I’m sure we’ve all done it – decided that we can get by using a flat head screwdriver on a Phillips screw. The reality is, it’s quicker, easier and produces a better outcome if we use the right tools. They are the enabler in the process (see Enablement as one of the core drivers of Employer Reputation).

Secondly, they’ve been educated and trained in it. They know the fundamentals, the principles behind what they are doing and why they are doing it. They know what to look out for, what to avoid, how to reduce the risk, optimise performance. And they’ve practiced it, over and over again. They get instant feedback; they immediately see the result of their work and the impact it has. They have the expertise. The know how. They’re savvy. Fortunately for me, my build team aren’t cowboys either. They are invested in the project and really care about it, their work and their reputation.

Above all though, what strikes me is that they exude confidence. Nothing phases them. There’s always a solution, a workaround or a fix.

A couple of months ago, I said to the builder that I’d like to get a bit more involved. To be a bit more hands on with the project over the weekends. Again, recognising my limitations, I wasn’t looking to tackle electrical, plumbing or structural stuff. I’m all about the safety. I just wanted to be a bit more useful. And I wanted to learn. His response to me was what I would hope any mentor, coach or manager would offer up.

He said, “Absolutely, get involved. I tell you what we’ll do: I’ll draw up a list of things you can help with. You let me know which or all you want to do. I’ll show you how to do them, we’ll do a few together and then I’ll check them once you’ve done them to make sure you’re happy and we’re happy. Once we know what you’re comfortable with we can move on. And feel free to use any of our kit”.

This was exactly what I had hoped for. A real learning opportunity and the chance to acquire some new skills. With the proper equipment.

Then he added the most important part, “Don’t worry about messing anything up, if you did get into difficulty (you won’t) we’d come and help and if it goes wrong, we’ll put it right”. There it was, right there, that confidence and that reassurance. Emotionally I had been trusted and given permission to fail without fear of consequence. The biggest stumbling block to giving it a go had been removed.

In all organisations, employees should have access to this type of experience because that’s how they learn, develop and how they grow their expertise. There needs to be a shared responsibility for learning and development, a recognition of the benefit to the business of a more capable and skilled workforce, the tools to enable it and an emotional environment that supports it.

Businesses seeking to enhance their reputation as an employer should be looking at how they continuously strengthen their level of expertise.

What are you doing to grow expertise in your business?

And in the future, who knows, you may find me building houses rather than employer reputations.