The Construction Relationship Blueprint: 5 Steps to Build Lasting Friendships in the Construction Industry
By Scotti Ian Ogden
Owner of Ogden Contracting LTD.
Dominate The Market Through Powerful Construction Relationships.
When you build lasting friendships in the construction industry, it creates a sense of belonging and community within the industry, which leads to greater satisfaction and fulfillment in both your personal and professional life.
Why? The network of friends you develop within the industry will be a source of motivation for you to work harder and strive for success. By applying these tactics you will create a strong network of friends and business contacts which will open new opportunities for job leads, referrals, and partnerships. By establishing meaningful relationships with others in the industry, you will create a positive reputation for yourself and your business, leading to increased trust and credibility.
In My Experience… I know how hard it is to manage and build a successful construction business. After being in the construction industry for over thirty years, I’ve come to realize that growing my company would have been much easier with a mentor. I realized over this time period, relationships are one of the most important parts of business.
I started renting panels from a company called Coast Forms early on in my building career. When the owner, Bob, would show up to deliver them, I made an effort to engage with him, ask him about what was going on in his life outside of work. When it came time to return the panels, I would make sure they were clean and nicely stacked as if I were returning them to a friend. In time periods without work, Bob was able to provide contacts that were in need of work as he is well networked in the industry. Over 20 years later, I still get work from Coast
Forms because they know I care and respect them. Now Bob’s son has taken over the company and sometimes when I call him to talk business, we end up discussing our weekend. I’ll have to call him again and say “Oh yeah, I actually have to make an order”. This is just one example of a relationship that has helped me create longevity in my business.
5 Steps to Build Lasting Friendships in the Construction Industry
1. Make a list of 10 to 20 people you interact with regularly within the industry
Example: Suppliers, Engineers and Professionals, Inspectors, Truss and Window Manufacturers, Sub-Trades, Plumbers, Electricians, HVAC installers, Roofers, etc. List the Name, Title, Company, and The Form of Communication you use with them.
2. Create a list of everything you know about them personally and professionally
Example: Age, marital status, number of children, hobbies, or interests, position in the company, personal information, where they live, etc. If you are following them on social media platforms, comment on their posts. Take notes of what you observe and use that as topics of interest during your next interaction with them.
3. Improve Interactions With Them
Next time you meet with them either through a phone call or in person, read the outline below before and after the meeting. Check the boxes of the areas you know you’re good at and leave the boxes blank for areas you know you need to improve on.
4. Take Detailed Notes
It is important that after a conversation, you take some detailed notes. There are a couple of different methods I use when taking notes. Writing them down in a notebook, or paper, in my head, and in my contacts on my phone. Example: Open your phone to the contact of the person you just spoke with, enter the notes in the space allowed in the contact card on your phone. To do so, go to “Edit Contact”, scroll down to the bottom to find a section where you can type in notes. Review these notes before future conversations to build a better rapport
with them. People notice when you remember the smallest detail about them.
5. Keep In Touch
It is important to stay in touch with people on a regular basis if you want to maintain a strong connection. I find it best practice during a conversation to coordinate a Date or Time that you’re going to speak to them next. This will help maintain a friendship. Make a note in your
calendar to stay in contact with them. I like to create a repeating calendar that alerts me every week to reach out to specific people. I edit and add names to that list, so it alerts me on a regular basis keeping me accountable. This will create lasting friendships as well as helping your business create leads. Consistency is the most important part.
Thank You for Reading. If you found this helpful, let me know. Never hesitate to reach out, I could be your first friend in the industry. If you’re interested in reading more blog posts, follow us on instagram or facebook for updates on new posts.
