INTERNATIONAL AND SPECIALIZED TRANSPORT
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DECEMBER 2013
SC&RA COMMENT
47
A leader of any company knows the inherent value in
possessing an extensive awareness of the goings-on of
the business from top to bottom. In plain language, a
CEO should know his or her company inside and out. Oddly
enough, however, this isn’t always as perfunctory as it sounds.
In our industry especially, communication is critical, from the
boardroom to the jobsite. Time and budget depends on it and, in
some cases, lives do as well. An efficient channel of information
regarding the day-to-day operations of the business, policies and
procedures relevant to the project and safety measures should
flow smoothly downstream from the CEO to the onsite worker,
driver or machine operator. Intermediaries (foremen, managers,
project leaders, etc.) should all possess the ability and desire to
receive and deliver crucial information as effectively and widely
as possible.
This chain of command is the only thing that keeps this
information channel intact, with one providing a fundamental
value to the other. Without a leader who understands the essential
need for this process to remain uncompromised, a company,
whether anyone knows it or not, is waiting to fail.
Effective communication
An effective leader certainly delegates authority as it applies.
But that doesn’t exclude them from serving as the ultimate eyes,
ears and architect behind the integrity of the company. Regular
meetings with all appropriate staff has been, and will always be, an
extremely effective method for communicating the full spectrum
of ideas and directives that keep a company moving onward
and upward. In such gatherings, a boss can not only “take the
temperature” of the staff on a variety of topics and/or concerns,
but they can efficiently set (and re-set if they have to) the tone for
a particular endeavour, or reiterate the objectives of the company
mission overall. It is also beneficial in these meetings to allow
COMMENT
Joel M Dandrea
staff to express themselves and their ideas with professional
confidence. It is often just as useful to have people tell you why
something won’t work as it is for them to tell you why it will. In
addition, these are great opportunities for people in leadership
roles to model behaviour to the entire staff. Integrity starts at the
top. Success is a result of that integrity filtering down through
each and every employee.
Be realistic
Accountability is another strategic pillar in a company that
can either support the full weight both of triumphs and
disappointments or start to crack and crumble with each new
challenge. A realistic set of expectations should be articulated
by every leader – clearly and consistently – to the extent that
it becomes a mission statement for each new endeavour, and
ultimately, the business at large.
Knowing a company inside and out, for a leader, involves a
comprehension for what can be accurately accomplished within
the parameters of each particular effort. Leaders need to know
the strengths and limitations of their company on a per project
basis, including how each of these elements are connected to
particular departments and/or staff members. Goal setting is one
thing, but commitment to the job is another. If employees do not
understand the difference, then a good leader will make sure
they do.
And the sound of your own voice should not be so intoxicating
that it drowns out the often-valuable insights coming from the
other voices in the room. In other words, get over yourself,
and be prepared for challenge. In fact, encourage your staff to
challenge you (professionally). Idea exchange can sometimes
become a competitive environment, but also an effective one.
Understanding your company well enough to see the advantage in
such give and take is the trademark of any successful leader.
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Finger on the pulse
WHO’S WHO
SPECIALIZED CARRIERS
& RIGGING ASSOCIATION
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
Joel Dandrea
5870 Trinity Parkway, Suite 200
Centreville, Virginia, 20120, USA
Tel: +1 (703) 698 0291
Fax: +1 (703) 698 0297
CHAIRMAN
Michael Battaini
Sheedy Drayage
San Francisco, CA, USA
PRESIDENT
Ron Montgomery
Intermountain Rigging & Heavy Haul
Salt Lake City, UT
VICE PRESIDENT
Alan Barnhart
Barnhart Crane and Rigging
Memphis, TN
TREASURER
Delynn Burkhalter
Burkhalter
Columbus, MS
ASSISTANT TREASURER
Bruce Forster
Rigging Gear Sales
Dixon, IL
ALLIED INDUSTRIES GROUP
CHAIRMAN
David Wittwer
, Hays Companies
Salt Lake City, UT
CRANE & RIGGING GROUP
CHAIRMAN
David Cowley
, TNT Crane & Rigging
Longview, TX
LADIES GROUP CHAIRWOMAN
Cathy Moore
, NBIS
Atlanta, GA
TRANSPORTATION GROUP
CHAIRMAN
Geary Buchanan
Buchanan Hauling & Rigging
Fort Wayne, IN
SC&R FOUNDATION
OFFICERS
PRESIDENT:
Robert Moore
NBIS
Atlanta, GA
VICE PRESIDENT:
Stephanie Bragg
Bragg Companies
Long Beach, CA
TREASURER:
Jim Sever
PSC Crane & Rigging
Piqua, OH
