Leadership and Management of Details

Building a great contracting business requires the right balance of leadership and management.

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“Efficiency is doing things right; effectiveness is doing the right things.” - Peter Drucker

This quote or a variation often gets used to describe the difference between strategy and tactics; leadership and management.

Quote: The man in charge must concern himself with details. If he does not consider them important, neither will his subordinates. Yet the devil is in the details... Hyman G. Rickover

While it is possible to separate them the truth is that many of the top leaders are relentlessly disciplined managers.  Think:

Admiral Hyman G. Rickover who is considered the “Father of the Nuclear Navy” was a relentless and disciplined manager.  He oversaw every detail of building out then operating a nuclear submarine fleet with a record of zero reactor accidents.  

Contractors have to put together many thousands of parts coming from hundreds of suppliers and subcontractors across dozens of projects each year operating on very thin margins with tight cash flow and major safety risks.  

Disciplined management is a key to sustainable growth.

Improve your management processes




Words of Wisdom for Leading Growth
Develop a clear market strategy and set guiding principles that creates value for your customers and your business. Nurture and promote those on your team that take initiative to aggressively execute strategy while relentlessly following up on details.
Deliberately Building Your Perfect Life
What did you do today to improve your value-add and do more of what you love? The foundation of all sustainably growing contractors is a team with each person individually strong, sharing common values, and aligned around a common purpose.
Management Systems - 10 Principles for Effectiveness
Management systems are the glue that connects a contactor's strategies, plans, projects, people, and resources together to make progress toward its vision. Management systems are the foundation for growth and must evolve as conditions change.