Here are just a few stories from people I have helped.

Dealing with explosive emotions and pressure on the jobsite.

Several years ago I had a large residential remodeling job well underway amidst a lot of scheduling pressure.  It was near Christmas time, and it was crucial that the work of the different subcontractors flow along so that the various steps of the project could move ahead in order.  The work of one trade closely affected the work of other trades.

On this one particular morning there were carpenters, an electrician and a plumber all working at the same time.  Suddenly the plumber started grumbling loudly about how there were too many people working there and how he was under too much pressure.  He said he was ready to leave.  I thought, “Oh, wonderful.  Just what I need right now.”

I went over to him and asked what was happening.  He said there were people in his way at my job site, that the company he worked for was putting too much unrealistic pressure on him, and he was probably going to quit the company, that the job was not worth it.  He was a very muscular guy, and you could feel his anger.  He was ready to blow, and I didn’t know what he might do.

I put my hand on his shoulder and said, “Let’s step away and talk for a minute.”  The plumber came with me to a quieter spot where we could talk.  I said that I appreciated how much pressure he was under and that I did not want to add to his pressure.  I said that I was also under a great deal of pressure and that if he left the whole flow of the job would stop.  I told him I was relying on him and his good work.  I also stressed to him that I would do anything to help his job; we would make sure that no one was in his way, and I offered to help in any way I could.  He calmed down some and took a few minutes to be by himself.

Shortly after that the plumber came over to me and said that he would complete my job no matter what, and that he would have no more outbursts.  I breathed a big sigh of relief and thanked him.  He was good to his word.

Negotiating for common ground and agreement

I have a friend who is my business/family attorney and mediation partner.  Sometimes he draws me into professional situations that he has to deal with.  In one case his client was buying a $750,000 speculation house, and the client and the builder were at odds.  The deal was at risk of falling apart, although the client did want the house.  The builder had the attitude that he was fine if the deal fell apart.  My attorney friend asked if I wanted to get involved, using both my expertise as a builder and my experience as a mediator and negotiator.

We met altogether.  I asked questions and learned what issues were in dispute, while getting a feel for the buyer and the builder.  After a while I pulled the buyer and the builder aside separately to urge them in one direction or another or to ask for clarification.  In time we had a final agreement, with an agreed list of items to be finished and how they were to be done.  Everyone signed, shook hands, and it seemed the situation was resolved.

The next day the buyer called me and asked if I had a minute.  He then launched into a whole new list of complaints about the builder.  I thought, “Whoa, you have to be kidding.”  I kept my mouth shut, though, and just listened, looking for internal guidance as to the crux of this new development.

Thankfully, it came to me.  I said, “John, you would never hire this builder to build you a custom house, right?”  He said, “Absolutely not.”  I said, “But, you have chosen to buy the house he built, right?”  John said yes.  I then said, “Well, he is never going to be who you want him to be, and he built the house according to his standards.  If you still want to buy the house, you have to accept that.”  John thought about that and then agreed.  I further said to him, “What I suggest is that you set aside several thousand dollars, which is a drop in the bucket next to the cost of the house, and on your own change the few things that glare at you that you will see every morning when you walk downstairs.  Then you will be happy with what you have.”  John took that in, agreed, and went ahead with the purchase.

My same attorney friend called me another time to ask me to connect me with an out of town couple who owned and rented out a home in our town.  They had one legal renter and one illegal one.  They were trying to get special approval to allow the second renter.  Not only did the town reject their request, but they were somewhat nasty about it.

Tuning in to where clients are at

Several months later the couple called me to ask if I would help them get a building permit to alter their home back into a legal single family dwelling.  I met with them, and they were very nice people who seemed overwhelmed with dealing with the town offices, especially after the rejection they experienced not long before.  I told the couple that I always approach the town officials with the truth and also appeal to their humanity if appropriate.

At the end of our meeting the husband walked me to my truck and then told me a horrific story of personal loss that he and his wife had experienced.  They had lost two sons in separate incidents, and a third son was determined to become a Green Beret and go to Iraq.  The husband became emotional with me and told me they just could not deal with any more disharmony at this point and could not begin to face dealing with the town officials.  I urged him and his wife to get more support for themselves in their place of need and told him that I might share a little of their story with the town officials in my quest.

Our building commissioner is known for playing by the book.  I chose to tell him a minute of my clients’ story when I talked to him.  He hung his head for a moment in commiseration and then wished me the best in getting the permit and said I should go talk right away with one of his inspectors to start the ball rolling for permitting.  The town handed us a permit in just two days, which was pretty unheard of.

The couple was thrilled and very appreciative.  They then asked me, now that we had the permit, if I would also do the construction work, which I did!

Contact me today and see how I can help your situation.