Matt Firestone

In most electrical contracting firms, project managers are the conduit between the office and field. They are responsible for making sure all the necessary resources are on the job site when needed to keep the crew moving...

Pick up a book on management, goal setting or key performance indicators, and you will likely read the quote, “What gets measured gets managed.” While management guru Peter Drucker is often credited with saying this first...

Safety is an everyday topic in the construction industry. Personal protective equipment such as hard hats, safety glasses, boots, gloves and hi-vis vests are essential to keeping the workforce safe. Safety is much more than...

I have discussed the traits and habits of leaders and managers, but not earning the right to lead others. It takes time and effort to earn others’ respect as a leader. Being an effective leader is not about getting others to...

Almost as contentious as the chicken and egg debate, “Are managers and leaders the same?” has been pondered for years. The terms can be used interchangeably. There are some similarities between “leadership” and “management,”...

Last month, I explored why having a strong professional network is vital to business success. The primary focus was on building relationships and connections with people outside your company. I shared a three-step process for...

While you can’t pay bills with them, the real currency of business is relationships. They open doors and lead to opportunities that can pay off. The two primary business relationship types are internal and external. Internal...

When talking about good communicators, it’s common to think of orators making inspirational speeches. Historic speakers such as Winston Churchill, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King Jr., Vince Lombardi and Gloria Steinem...

I don’t know any leaders that wear a cape, sport a utility belt with boomerangs or have a sidekick. But some of their feats rate right up there with Superman, Batman and Spiderman. Being a leader is not about dressing up...

Many of us feel like we are firefighters rather than contractors on a typical workday. We arrive in the morning with the intention of completing a to-do list, only to spend much of our time putting out others’ fires. Then...

The mastermind concept isn’t new. The term “mastermind” dates back to Napoleon Hill’s 1925 book, “The Law of Success.” Hill describes groups of peers helping one another solve their most challenging problems. While a peer...

Each of us has a unique personality. Looking at your employees, even though two individuals may have the same skills, experience and job title, their personalities are probably quite different. When it comes to your business...