On the last day of the 2024 Special Projects Forum, held from July 14-16 in Aurora, CO, attendees developed action plans to implement the insights gained. We recently followed up with participants to learn about their progress. Here are three success stories from Lisa Cassaday (Vital Mechanical Service), Peter McLean (Cox Engineering), and Alex Kaslofski (Atomatic Mechanical Service):
Lisa Cassaday (Vital Mechanical Service):
Lisa set out to improve her communication and leadership by focusing on three key areas: paying greater attention to the negative cues she gives her team, applying the F.O.R.D. relationship-building technique, and using SMART principles for clearer, more actionable emails. She has made significant strides in all these areas. While addressing her negative cues remains a work in progress, Lisa now has a heightened awareness and is actively working to improve. She also used the F.O.R.D. technique with two colleagues, which gave her valuable insights and strengthened her connections. This success has motivated her to continue applying it with others. Additionally, she integrated SMART principles into her emails, achieving noticeable results with some team members, while recognizing that for others, progress will take time.
Peter McLean (Cox Engineering):
Peter aimed to improve communication within his team, both internally and externally, by reducing back-and-forth emails and encouraging more phone conversations with follow-up emails. He also focused on speaking and listening with positive intent. By restructuring the Special Projects Team and eliminating unnecessary layers, Peter streamlined communication, leading to a more engaged and productive team environment.
Alex Kaslofski (Atomatic):
Alex set out to develop a new estimating sheet to improve efficiency. By year’s end, the sheet was not only completed but also enhanced with import features that minimize workload for accounting and sales reps. While he wasn’t able to free up 10% of his time, he managed 7% —a commendable start!
We encourage all attendees to share their updates, whether you’ve reached your goals, adapted them, or are still working toward them. Every success—big or small—helps us all move forward together!
Finally, the collaboration and insights gained at the forum continue through the Special Projects Peer Group, which meets regularly via Zoom. These calls allow members to stay connected, share progress, and learn from one another. Contact Julie Bishop if you’d like to be added to this group.
