22 - How to Innovate

"Business has only two functions — marketing and innovation." Peter Drucker Marketing is about creating and keeping customers Innovation concentrates on creating new levels of performance in one of three areas: people, product, and processes. Innovation is hard because it requires change and doesn't always work; therefore it gets resisted. Angie Simon, President of Western Allied Mechanical, Inc. and incoming President of Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA), joins me again. Today's topic, how to implement process innovation, successfully. Western Allied Mechanical, Inc. is an $85 million-dollar mechanical contractor in the Silicon Valley of California who employs over 220 people. SMACNA, is an industry association representing over 1,800 mechanical contractors in the United States and Canada. Three Steps of Successful Process Innovation: Have one person be the "champion" of the innovation Explain the "why" to all parties to get buy in and a sense of ownership Show them the results and celebrate successes Show Highlights The resistance to innovation in the construction industry How poor implementation led to the initial failure of Productivity Tracking Hiring an Operations Manager, and tasking him to spearhead Productivity Tracking The importance of proper roll out when introducing any innovation Pick a "champion" to drive the process innovation Clearly explain the "why" of the new process How Productivity Tracking led to increasing the amount of prefabrication Using Productivity Tracking to surface problems earlier, and celebrate successes more often How Productivity Tracking impacted estimating Why being willing to change is the best way to grow Show the results and celebrate successes Links Angie Simon LinkedIn Western Allied Mechanical Inc. Website Sheet Metal & Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association Website This episode is brought to you by The Construction Leaders Dashboard. The Construction Leaders Dashboard is one of the simplest and yet most powerful tools for leaders in construction companies of all sizes.    Construction companies use this tool to get clear on strategic priorities, recruit new field and office talent who are aligned with the mission and values of the firm, and as a development planning tool to develop the next generation of leaders. It will empower you to: Focus on what matters, so that you spend your time doing the things that have the most impact with clients. Make sure that everyone in the organization is aligned, accountable, and contributing equally to the company's growth and success.   Attract, develop, and retain future leaders who can continue to move the organization forward. To instantly download your copy of the dashboard, go to: https://www.ericanderton.com/cld