Building more than just a job, building a career

RCS Influencer Tammy Hall says cross-training keeps her team members engaged and motivated and opens the path to promotions and new roles.

At CFS, cross-training plays a vital role in our corporate culture. I believe that roofing is a career, not just a job. Cross-training exposes us to different aspects of the business by helping us gain a better understanding of how various functions interrelate and contribute to the overall workflow. I've found that this leads to improved collaboration, communication and problem-solving abilities.

I've experienced the challenges of finding the right person for the right role. When I do, I want to retain them by offering opportunities to learn new skills and broaden their knowledge base. Cross-training keeps our team members engaged and motivated and opens the path to promotions and new roles if that is what they desire. Providing career options within our business has proven to be a great asset in retaining individuals who may not have initially considered a long-term career in roofing.

One of our greatest strengths at CFS is our ability to be nimble, to shift when needed, and to adapt to change quickly. Maintaining cross-training throughout the organization has made us more responsive to changing business needs. As projects, priorities or market conditions shift, our employees can be readily redeployed to areas where their skills are most needed at the time.

By developing a pool of cross-trained team members both in the field and office, we are better prepared for seamless transitions when key personnel go on vacation, need family leave, retire or move to new roles. Finding work-life balance is always a challenge, no matter what your role, and having a team that can cover your responsibilities when you take time off is beneficial to both the company and the employee. When you return to the office, it is refreshing to start your week with that week’s tasks and not start a week behind on what did not get completed. We work hard to spread critical knowledge and skills so that they are not concentrated in a few individuals.

The initial investment of time and resources into cross-training has yielded significant long-term benefits. We have a more resilient, adaptable and knowledgeable team that contributes to improved efficiency, productivity and overall success.