What Makes a Great Job Foreman

Are you currently or soon going to be a job foreman? Here are some tips for success!

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[evocarti]

The foreman I remember most fondly, and he's still alive, is called Mark Wade. I remember years ago I spotted a mistake on the drawings and Mark wasn't there so I stuck my neck on the block and instructed the other bricklayers to deviate from the drawings and told them I would take responsibility. It turned out that I was correct but that didn't save me from the most memorable tongue lashing from Mark the following Monday in front of everyone... And I mean everyone. However after he was done shouting at me he conceded, in front of everyone, that I'd made the right decision. On my way out of his office he said to me: "Lawrence, if it makes any difference I have every confidence that one day you will be sitting in the big chair reminding some cocky fool who is in charge."

Guess what, I'm sitting in that chair right now going over the drawings for the sixth time today.

[drewc]

Please, I am 29 years old and newly in charge of people as an electrician on Long Island, keep these videos coming. I ingest them like a succulant absorbs water and I tell my mentors about you as well. Never a lie, nor a useless phrase, and I'm glued to the screen entirely for the duration of your videos. Please continue to immortalize your knowledge here, we will tend to it well. Thank you so much, for the life you have lived and the wisdom you spread. We appreciate you sharing your plans =P

[Bryce]

Love these wisdom videos. In my line I can say I've had a mixture of all of those guys in my short time of being in the workforce. Had one particular Party Chief that gave me heck every day (thought he hated me lol), taught me something at every turn, tried to warn me before I left the company we worked at to go to a different one, but is someone I can call or text at anytime and he'll help me with any question I have, and is one the best mentors I'll ever have. The traits he taught me: take care of your people, be careful who you blame, always teach the ones below you, be hard on folks that need it, and always be there for the people younger than you bc every young man is looking for a mentor in every aspect of life

[mikewatson]

I spent many years as a lead. My first rule was Don't ask someone else to do a job that I wasn't willing to do myself. Second rule was Teach anyone that is willing to learn. Third rule was Don't try to make someone better who doesn't want to be better. (Until they change their mind). Fouth rule was Be open about what we were doing.

I had many people thank me for everything that they learned from me when they moved on to something better.

Scott, Thank you for your teaching.

[patarmentrout]

As a supervisor, it is not your job to use your men to make yourself look good, it is your job to help the men make themselves look good

[s.e.wagger]

The way you tell a story is amazing. I've watched other YT-ers and you can tell they are talking to their "audience" so to speak. But watching you is like sitting down at the kitchen table, having a coffee and being engaged in a personal, one-on-one, conversation. Well done, my Christian Brother.

[robertwazniak]

I’ve learned a lot from every person that I ever worked for. I screwed up big time once as a teenage laborer in a factory ( I cut 144 2x4x35 oak 1/2 inch short) and the foreman (my father)simply said to recut the blocks. On the way home that night I asked why I didn’t get yelled at for my screwup. He said “ no matter how loud I yelled as a foreman, those block would never have gotten any longer.” What I learned at that point has lasted my whole career. I always felt that as a foreman, my job was to teach. My success was determined by the success of those under me… my underlings now hold successful respected positions in upper management or are business owners… not because I taught them how to be a manager but because I taught them to be humans and treat others that way.

[jrys]

Never forget to thank your guys for a Job well done regularly.Maybe show you appreciation w some Donuts or lunch or maybe the occasional after work beverage

[danielm]

I’ve been in construction going on a 1/4 century now. I’m 5 years into my general contracting business. This man is a wealth of wisdom and knowledge. This goes out to all the youngsters. Never think you know it all because you will eventually run into someone that actually knows what you thought you knew😂. This is one of those guys that you are watching right now. Keep teaching sir! You are teaching youngsters and keeping us old guys ego’s at bay! Much appreciated!

[CODA-Improvements]

Before starting my own business, my philosophy as foreman was to lead by example, and to also serve my crews by providing them with the proper tools and materials to do the work.

[ironman]

Almost 30 years in construction and the men that I remember and impressed me the most never screamed or raised their voice. When problems occurred they stayed calm got their heads together and fixed the problem. And moved forward!

[JuanDeLaGarza-gqlp]

This gentleman is an excellent story teller and communicator, that is becoming rare in todays world. As a business owner for decades now several things I look for in an employee are enthusiastic work habits, experience, moral character, and good communicator. When I bring someone on board with that skill set very quickly they rise to the top of the pay scale, I call it “ cream rising to the top”.

[Muftobration]

As I get older, I realize good leadership skills are common across disciplines. I manage a software engineering team and have worked under several managers in my career. The skills of knowing when to be firm, when to let things go, sharing the plan with the team, and pitching in all apply. I can see a corollary for everything you said in my industry. Thank you for making these videos.

[PabloAleman-eg]

I’m a Foreman/superintendent /helper/laborer / field guy plumber running my first job with a new company left me alone knowing that I was capable of running the job with only 2 guys while doing lay out ordering material making changes in drawing attending meetings cleaning up 15 minutes before the day end to help my team be rdy to
Go home I’ll say this we are no better then anyone else, the best feeling is knowing your guys are getting better and better what’s even better when one of your guys gets a better position and come up to you and say thank you.!! For everything keep up the good work fellas

[gabrielmoran]

"Participate in the
I love this guy. Wish all leaders would have this attitude.

[jordanmcgahey]

My boss wants me to run his framing crew and it's all I've been thinking about for months now. I'm very very grateful for videos like these 🇺🇸

[RandomFlares]

I don’t have your laundry list, but in the early 80s, I served four years in the Corps…What I learned from observation about leadership was never ask one of your men to do something you weren’t willing to do…It allows you to stay grounded and humble…The folks that work for you see and appreciate that…It builds a camaraderie that affords you a team that will walk through fire with you…Not for you.

[knotbumper]

I was always taught (as an electrician) that when you get three good hands, you put your tools aside and start laying out further ahead because they will catch up to you and stand around waiting for the next step. That was taught early on in my apprenticeship when my JW and i along with two others were standing waiting for our foreman who was working with the tools stopped, set his tools down and then came over to figure out where we were headed next. there was no coordination on the job with other trades, we were always a day late and a dollar short. Production work like framing I realize is different.

[ytun]

You, sir, are truly gifted. I’ve probably watched every video that you and your son have produced. Your ability to communicate, teach and tell a story is unsurpassed. When listening to your stories, with your voice, your delivery and your command of the language, I’m reminded of Paul Harvey. Thank you for posting your videos and keep up the good work.

[jaywethington]

I own a small remodeling business and I sometimes need videos like this one to remind me of what I have and even how to act sometimes. I can be a little short fused sometimes, especially after the past few weeks. Thanks for the reminder EC. It's much appreciated.