The Coaching Corner with Michael Riegel: Milestone Moments

We like big round numbers. They provide targets to aim at in pursuit of a goal. With that kind of focus, it is remarkable how often the goal is achieved. The ability was always there, sometimes the effort and attention just had to be directed appropriately. For the longest time, construction was referred to as a 90/10 industry (male to female workforce breakdown). A blip earlier this year made it 89/11. Not quite as resonant. And there has been recent news touting one million women in the construction workforce. I suspect aiming for a million or talking about that as a goal was not in most people’s regular discussions. Why? It’s a really big number—most probably had no idea what the current number is—and the industry is disaggregated. How would a company even know the impact of hiring one more woman?

As I listened to NAWIC’s incoming President, Lauline Mitchell, at the annual conference, the idea of milestone moments became more relevant. Highlighting the record membership that has been recorded, she set a goal—a big round number—to aim at for the coming year. She went one step further and brought it back to a very simple number – one. To meet the goal and her challenge, each member just had to recruit one new member. Just one. She did what the construction industry has not done. The overall goal may be big but the way to get there is not so daunting. The attendees know the current membership and she made it a collective effort.

Whether in your personal or professional life, establishing a goal is important. Even a BHAG – a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. In any goal setting, remember the following elements:

• Know where you are so you can determine where you want to go.
• Break it down into smaller, more manageable pieces.
• Track your progress against the smaller elements and the overall goal.
• Celebrate your successes even if the BHAG is not reached – yet!
• Start the process all over again with a newer, more audacious goal.

Women now represent 14% of the construction workforce. That is an amazing increase in recent months. Think about the impact if we apply Lauline’s approach not just to NAWIC membership but to the industry as a whole. If every woman recruits just one more woman to the industry in the next three years, the benefits will be hard to calculate. Reduced income inequality, greater opportunities for management and leadership positions, business ownership, and on and on.

I can’t wait to attend next year’s conference in Portland and see the progress toward meeting or surpassing the goal. In the meantime, let me know what goals you are setting for yourself and how you plan on getting across the finish line. You can reach me at MRiegel@AECBusinessStrategies.com.

As always,

Michael Riegel