At Sierra Construction Group, we pride ourselves on our team culture and employee relationships. Simply put, we know that we have a great team both on-site and in-office, and we’re incredibly grateful to those people for showing up every day; positive, reliable, and hard-working.
But what makes us this way? What makes us stand out to current and potential employees against other construction organizations? How have we built a strong team across multiple divisions with multiple roles? And how can you do the same?
We reached out to managers across our organization, from our Bridge, General Contracting, and Infrastructure divisions, to our in-office divisions such as Accounting and Marketing. We asked them all two questions: What do you look for when hiring, and how do you think this helps when building a strong team? Through this, we determined the top attributes to look for when building a strong team both on and off site.
Attitude
When hiring at Sierra, we always look at attitude first. Attitude is a crucial factor to consider when hiring a good team because it can significantly impact the success of the team and the organization as a whole.
Is there a commitment there? A passion? A drive? Ultimately, these employees are our most valuable assets, from field workforce to management. Regardless of position, having a good attitude means that you can inspire and motivate other team members and can create a positive work environment.
“Out of 20,000 new hires, 46% fail within 18 months. 89% due to attitude and only 11% due to lack of skills” – Forbes Magazine
An employee's attitude also helps us determine if they are a fit for our company culture. At Sierra Construction Group, we love to work hard but also have fun at the same time, so each employee needs to have an attitude that gives them the willingness to grow professionally, work hard, and adapt to change, while also making sure that they feel at home, and part of the team.
Overall, attitude is a critical factor when hiring a good team as it can significantly impact the team's success, morale, productivity, and overall well-being.
Collaborative Skills
Collaborative skills are essential when hiring a good team because they enable individuals to work effectively with others towards a common goal. A team that is built on collaborative skills is better equipped to handle complex tasks and challenges, and can achieve better results.
At Sierra, having collaborative skills are incredibly important as mentorship and collaboration are a huge part of what we do. Collaboration and our different levels of experience help in making our team a well-oiled machine. We can rely on each other in problem solving and experience to overcome issues that may arise on projects.
We have a great diversity of experience amongst our team. This type of mentorship across divisions allows for the less seasoned employees to learn from the people they are working with day to day. When looking for new team members, they must be willing to support each other, share knowledge and resources, so that we can work together towards a common goal.
Overall, collaborative skills are essential when hiring a good team because a collaborative team can leverage the strengths of each member, foster a positive work environment, and achieve better results.
Strengths
Strengths are important when hiring a good team because they represent the unique skills and abilities that each individual brings to the table.
The most efficient teams utilize the strengths of their team members, and we are no exception. When your team members’ roles are positioned to align with their strengths, there is a greater chance of the project being successful. Each individual needs to understand their role and the importance of that role for achieving the common goal of the project/company. These roles can be further strengthened with training as required, and we are always willing to train if an employee is willing to learn. At Sierra, questions are welcomed and encouraged, and it's important to us to help employees continue to work on their strengths, both professionally and self-development.
Overall, a team that is built on strengths can achieve better results and is more likely to stay engaged and motivated.
Growth Potential
Growth potential is important when hiring a good team because it enables individuals to develop their skills, take on new challenges, and contribute to the success of the organization over the long term.
While a strong team will have its team members’ roles positioned to align with their strengths, over time these strengths, as well as other skills, will improve with experience. This will allow team members to take on roles with greater responsibilities. When individuals have growth potential, they are motivated to continuously learn and develop their skills. This can lead to better job performance, increased productivity, and higher job satisfaction.
Every employee at Sierra has the opportunity to move up in the company and gain more responsibility. We look for long-term retention, and have a low turnover rate, because we believe in our employees and having them move up throughout organization. Career advancement and innovation isn't possible without growth potential.
Building a strong team on and off-site takes time, effort, and a commitment to continuous improvement. By focusing on attitude, collaborative skills, strengths, and growth potential when hiring team members, organizations can create a team that is motivated, engaged, and productive. It's also important to foster a positive work environment that supports teamwork, communication, and learning. With the right approach, a strong team can achieve great things, overcome challenges, and help the organization succeed over the long term.