Using a recently adopted training program, Haskell is briefly and pragmatically developing its field leadership while reinforcing its core values of Team, Excellence, Service and Trust.
Haskell Director of Field Technical Training Mike McLachlan built the curriculum on the foundation of Mark Breslin’s “The Five Minute Foreman” series, which comprises 26 short videos, generally two to four minutes, and exercises that bring each brief lesson to life.
McLauchlan customized the program by grouping the lessons to fit a theme of each core value and layering in time during regular toolbox talks when participants collaborate about what they’ve learned and ideas for implementing it in their work.
“What’s cool about it is that it's simple,” McLauchlan said. “it doesn't take a lot of time, and it's all about what they're doing in the field. When they're having their ‘Toolbox Talks’ or their meetings, they can have their group discussions as part of this and they can do the exercise as part of their job.”
Breslin’s videos and exercises take on a broad range of topics common to entry- to mid-level leaders in construction settings, such as communications, safety, client interface and employee development. As an example, the lesson “Full Comprehension = ZERO Rework” is accompanied by an exercise on empowering employees.
“What’s good about it is that the Mark, the facilitator in the video, is from the field,” McLauchlan said. “When he talks, he is very, very good, very no-nonsense. He tells you that from the field, this is his experience, and I think it resonates with the people that are working in the field.”
The program rolled out to a group of nine foremen and assistant superintendents in the U.S. in the fourth quarter of 2020. They progressed through the Team, Excellence and Service chapters and are now working through Trust-related material. In Haskell’s Asia-Pacific (APAC) Region, a group of 22 is now in its second quarter and covering Excellence-related topics, facilitated by McLauchlan, Cameron Garman, APAC Human Resources Coordinator, and Construction Manager Jacobo Salan.
McLauchlan said that team members became increasingly interactive in the group discussion setting as the time and teachings progressed and that their progress was illuminating.
“The team has been very receptive and we’ve had some really good discussions,” he said. “We’re getting photos of the exercises they've done that are actual job-related things, like organizing or time management or delegation.
“We’re really seeing the potential in these people really come out. You can say there's a lot of potential, but now you can see the potential. And it’s there with all of them. There isn’t one of them that you haven't seen something that makes you say, ‘Wow, look at that potential. That is awesome.’ It’s just been a great experience for the group and for Cameron, Jacobo and me.”
Are you ready to lead and grow in your career? Haskell is dedicated to providing its team members the BEST Job of their Lives.
