Drawing from coaching analogies and a simple equation, Mike Moore of Moore Leadership & Peak Performance highlighted how leaders at construction companies can leverage their people to deliver results as part of his education session at the 2020 International Builders Show in Las Vegas. Moore stressed that a focus on the endgame–results–will not be as productive as focusing on processes and problem-solving during his session “The Leadership Cycle: Attract Followers, Develop Peak Performance, and Product Results.”
Moore suggests output or production at any company can be simplified to a simple 1+1+1=3 equation. Moore’s Law of Achievement posits that attitude + skills + actions = results. Focusing on results, Moore said, is misguided, as you cannot “change the 3 without changing the 1s.” To improve results, businesses must look inward at their attitude, skills, and actions.
“The only thing that you have that you can control that will guarantee you more profit, more money, more revenue, better business, [and] survival is the people you interact with and how you raise them,” Moore said.
Moore suggested the equation can be applied to hiring practices. Most companies only actively look for new employees when they have a hole to fill, instead of constantly looking to improve. By developing a “bench” of candidates to hire if an employee leaves or is fired creates a pipeline of employees that fit the company structure and applies some level of pressure on current employees to perform and strive for success.
Moore presented attendees with a template for searching for prospective employees. Leaders should look for employees who will focus on “learning, growing, and improving attitudes, skills, and actions to be unselfish and trustworthy experts who are helpful, caring and courageous,” Moore said. Results “will change rapidly” if leaders focus on these traits and instill their importance in current and prospective employees.
“As a leader, you are the lowest form of behavior you tolerate,” Moore said. “That person that’s got you frustrated when you’re driving home at night, the rest of your staff sees you as that person.”
Moore also spoke about the importance of creating a “To Be List” in business to focus on character traits rather than tasks to complete. The secret to life is “being, not doing,” according to Moore, and creating a “To Be List” helps employees and leaders strive to be the most helpful and productive workers they can be. Moore said too many businesses are solely driven by making money.
“You can’t behave differently than your intentions,” Moore said. “But if you don’t take care of your people first, you don’t maximize your profits. The most profitable thing you can do is raise better people. Lift the quality of your people so they can compete and perform better.”
