A Good Way to Learn

Have you ever had a quote on something by someone who really didn't know their stuff? It can be awkward and uncomfortable for you but imagine how that person feels- talk about the hot seat! Even seasoned pros can run into situations that will stump them, especially in the housing industry. When working with basements, crawl spaces and foundations we see so many unique problems that branch out into original circumstances because of the area, or maybe the soil or maybe even just the homeowner's preference! It can be a daunting task to assess, diagnose, convey the solution and all the while maintain the customer's immediate concern as your priority. I mean, experiment with that! Try coming off confident and pleasant when you have no idea what you're talking about...no fun! So that's why we train like maniacs to be really, really good at what we do. 

Sometimes we will get to train with other Basement Systems Dealers. This month we went up to Toronto and worked with three other dealers as well as some support staff from Basement Systems Inc. An idea we had was to take a few Inspectors from dealers and actually have them train the class on some basics. Tom & Adam here have been with us for years and talked about asking questions and listening. They did some role play and had a great time. The idea that the best way to learn is to teach was the focal point here.

Have you ever had someone ask you to teach or train something to a new employee, or maybe write a report on your duties and activities? It can really amaze you about what you might not know about the job! We believe in pushing our team out of their comfort zone (like by teaching a class, which would normally have them sitting in the opposite direction than what you see above!) to allow them to grow not just as professionals, but every day people. Our guys did a great job and were able to share so much knowledge and experience with other Inspectors, it was awesome to see. 

As you can see I even had an opportunity to step up and talk about what it takes to be a master at your craft. We do well because we believe in helping people and their homes and when you see over 3000 homes a year, you can easily lose that focus. When a homeowner calls us and three other companies to quote on a problem, many of them are looking to see who genuinely cares about their situation and the outcome. They are looking to trust that person and trust doesn't evolve because of fancy products or great warranties; it evolves through building a relationship with someone, and that's what we're great at!

All the training in the world cannot prepare you for every single possible situation and person out there, but practicing your craft with intent to improve will help you be the best for many, many people. Whether you drive transport, sell cars, cut grass or fix computers...you always have an opportunity to make a positive or negative impact on somebody and their day. So why not be a pro and make it a positive experience for the customer - or heck, just for anyone! "We receive as we give" are words we live by here, so when we come out to see you and your home, you can count on us to give 100%!