Sparky Life
On Your Construction Network the Sparky Life Podcast with Lia Lamela, every Thursday has remarkable stories and points of view from journeyman and woman who build the things that make our lives work! These lessons learned are not only valuable for those engaged in the skilled trades but frankly for all of us whether we use tools literally or figuratively in our daily lives. I share with you my electrical journey, experiences and insight through engaging banter with those I have met along the way. If you are interested in trade tales, an industry frought with excitement and risk subscribe and be notified every Thursday when trade tales continue. We build the world we want to live in. Let’s band together to create the sparks in our lives!
Sparky Life
Construction Industry needs a REVOLUTION
In this electrifying episode of The Sparky Life, host Lia Lamela dives deep into the dynamic world of the construction industry with an absolute powerhouse: Barb Allen, a trailblazer with over three decades of experience in leadership, from a licensed carpenter to superintendent and business owner. Join us in todays amazing conversation.
0:00 Introduction: Women Reshaping Construction and Persistent Challenges
1:00 Introducing Barb Allen: Extensive Experience and Perspective
2:30 Being Labelled "Difficult" as a Female Leader
4:30 Leadership Techniques: Letting People Come to Their Own Conclusions
7:30 The Initial Shock of Women in the Trades
8:30 Shift to Microaggressions and Unconscious Biases
11:30 Differences in Male and Female Conversational Styles
12:30 Dealing with "Yesing to Death" and Lack of Follow-Through
14:30 Leadership Title Without Actual Authority
17:30 Bosses Undermining Authority and the Importance of Reinforcement 19:30 The Constant Need to Reprove and Reasons for Women Leaving 21:30 Having Conversations with Leaders About Lack of Authority
25:00 Using the Socratic Method for Leadership Discussions
27:30 Approaching Leaders with the Assumption of Good Intentions
28:30 Sponsor Message: Supply House
29:30 Lack of Understanding from Clients and Design Teams
31:30 Assumptions About Women's Lack of Field Experience
34:30 Leadership Skills Versus Trade Skills and the Peter Principle
37:30 The Necessity of Leadership Training and its Impact on the Bottom Line
40:30 Reasons for Leaving Jobs: Bad Bosses Versus Pay
41:30 The Cost of Employee Turnover and the Practice of Pigeonholing 43:00 Differences in Male and Female Leaders Letting People Go
46:00 Being the One to Speak Up in Meetings and Male Colleagues' Reactions
48:00 Advice on Speaking Up and Potential Career Repercussions
52:30 Example of Inappropriate Industry Event and Varying Reactions
57:30 The Importance of Building a Strong Support Network
58:30 Where to Find Barb Allen and Her Podcast
Follow Barb here - www.constructionbarb.com or @constructionbarb
Thanks to our sponsor SupplyHouse! - Visit www.supplyhouse.com/t-m
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