Cultivate the Trainer in Supervisors, Managers

Well-trained employees are not only safer, but feel more competent and comfortable on a work site, which translates to higher productivity that emanates beyond a site, fostering a positive reputation within and outside of the company. The idea of training is broader than a formal function occurring in a classroom or at a field site. Training should be considered a responsibility of every supervisor and manager, because those employees are in the best position to help cultivate their crews’ skills and knowledge.

Supervisors and managers are promoted to their positions because of their experience and expertise; they know what they’re doing. For success today, management should only be allowed to keep their positions if they are also effective communicators in sharing what they know. People who are afraid to share knowledge should never lead. Good, strong managers and supervisors inspire their crews to do great things and be productive. Senior company management needs to support this concept that everyone is responsible for training. With managers and supervisors functioning as leaders and mentors generous with their knowledge and help, workers learn to help their co-workers avoid mistakes and perform tasks better.

In-the-company trainers should be chosen out of the best you have available. They need to teach the same things to each crew. They should promote teamwork and cross-train every position within the crew. Trainers need to be involved with every significant project from the start. When the project starts, so should a trainer.

Senior management needs to empower its trainers to ask the tough questions at a work site and jump in to troubleshoot when necessary. They need to be asking if everything is running okay, if tasks are being safely performed, if the workers are implementing the training they received. Trainers at the site need to be 100 percent capable of making quality adjustments that improve productivity and ensure best results. Their presence on the jobsite can send a powerful message to the crew and the owners of the project.

Training promotes safety and quality results. It can inspire a worker to be a part of something bigger, something greater. Clearly, when an asphalt contractor commits to making its workers the best, the workers will give their best. When workers are inspired to go to work and do their best for the company, this is the ultimate return on investment.

Jeff Ensell is the director of training at Roadtec, Inc., Chattanooga.