Precast Inc. - July/August 2008 - (Page 24) 15 More Great Management Reads dramatically over the last few years,” says Coons. “We’re not just quoting for quoting’s sake. If we don’t feel that it has a reasonable opportunity for becoming a successful order, we won’t get involved.” 1. 2. 3. 4. “The Nature of Leadership” by John Antonakis “The Leadership Challenge” by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner “Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results” by Stephen C. Lundin, Ph.D. “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable” by Patrick M. Lencioni “Love Is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends” by Tim Sanders “The Likeability Factor: How to Boost Your L-Factor and Achieve Your Life's Dreams” by Tim Sanders “Five Frogs on a Log: A CEO's Field Guide to Accelerating the Transition in Mergers, Acquisitions and Gut Wrenching Change” by Mark L. Feldman and Michael F. Spratt “Naked in the Boardroom: A CEO Bares Her Secrets So You Can Transform Your Career” by Robin Wolaner “Elizabeth I CEO: Strategic Lessons from the Leader Who Built an Empire” by Alan Axelrod, Ph.D. “An Introduction to Airline Economics” by William E. O'Connor “Boeing 737-100 and 200 (Airliner Color History)” by Michael Sharpe and Robbie Shaw “The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness” by Stephen R. Covey “Harvard Business Review on Leadership” by Henry Mintzberg and others “Revival of the Fittest: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Managers Remake Them” by Donald N. Sull “Made In China: What Western Managers Can Learn from Trailblazing Chinese Entrepreneurs” by Donald N. Sull and Yong Wang Pride of ownership For Greg Kerkstra, the best management strategies start at the employee level. Programs like profit sharing plans and quarterly employee meetings help create a culture of pride of ownership for his two-location, 200-employee firm – Kerkstra Precast of Grandville, Mich. About two years ago Kerkstra launched a quarterly newsletter that is written by and for the firm’s employees, and covers everything from safety to quality control to specific projects that are underway. He credits that communication tool – plus the profit-sharing plan and quarterly meetings – with helping to develop more productive, conscientious workers. “This is a great way to engage them,” says Kerkstra. “It’s about creating a sphere of ownership and using tools like peer pressure and suggestion to get the job done right and in a timely manner.” Looking at his bookshelf, Kerkstra says he has learned a lot from titles like “Lean Thinking” by Daniel Jones and James Womack, and “Good to Great” by Jim Collins, the latter of which he often uses as a teaching tool. In return, he says the company not only has made productivity gains, but it has also significantly improved its safety culture. “We went from the bottom of the list (among those in the precast industry) to the top of the list for lowest number of accidents,” says Kerkstra, whose top five managers each have a financial stake in the firm. “I don’t ever go home thinking I’m the only guy worried about the interest of the company. That’s been very helpful.” 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Continuing education One way precasters are boning up on their management strategies and putting them to work in their own firms is through continuing education. Offered by organizations like the National Precast Concrete Association, the American Management Association and a host of regional manufacturer’s associations, such education can serve as an excellent catalyst for executives looking to train themselves and their executive staffs on the most effective management skills for today’s marketplace. “Education doesn’t stop when you graduate from school,” says Wehrung, whose team regularly attends seminars and classes to stay up to speed on the best management strategies. He sees continuing education as particularly vital for precast manufacturers who have been in the business for decades and who are stuck in a rut of using antiquated management practices. “Because they’ve been around a long time, they think they know it all,” says Wehrung, who points to the NPCA’s bookstore, Web site and training classes as good options. “Use your association to the fullest extent.” Kerkstra urges precasters to look closely at their marketing 24 JULY/AUGUST 2008 | PRECAST INC. Source: Amazon/Listmania! and business development strategies, particularly as steel prices continue to rise and prompt more customers to turn to precast as a more affordable option. “Find your specialty within the industry and use good management strategies to stick with it and hone it in a way that produces good results,” says Kerkstra. “By doing so, you’ll not only be developing your own firm, but you’ll also be advancing the industry as a whole.” Bridget McCrea is a freelance writer who covers manufacturing, industry and technology. She is the winner of the 2007 Florida Magazine Association's Gold Award for best trade/technical feature statewide.
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.