How to Break into Commercial Roofing: The Importance of Training

By Evelyn Witterholt, RCS Reporter. 

Megan Ellsworth talks with Roger Nixon about how training is a vital component in a successful company. 

RCS Podcast Producer Megan Ellsworth recently sat down with Roger Nixon, regional sales manager at Estimating Edge, to discuss how companies can set themselves up for success by training employees the right way. 

Roger states that a pitfall many companies fall into is believing that training is a one-and-done occurrence. Having spent nine years in the military, he believes that military organizations have a continuous training model worth following. He states that every few years, you would go away and train for something else for a few weeks.  

“You're going to go train on something that's going to elevate your leadership skills,” Roger said. “Ultimately you're going to get more knowledge, you're going to become more experienced, and you're going to be disciplined.” 

When you train employees, Roger stresses that you must communicate your company’s overall values and objectives from the start. You also have to make sure that each department understands their specific objectives and the tasks that fall under them.  

One training technique Roger divulges is after-action reviews. During the training process, when the lesson is over, you look at what went well, what didn’t and how the team can improve. “You take these lessons learned and you incorporate them back into your planning,” he said. “When leadership fosters a continuous improvement model when it comes to training, it can only catapult the organization and more importantly catapult the people.” 

When asked about what makes a good trainer, Roger says that it comes down to their energy and engagement with their trainees. “As I'm training somebody, I'm watching the room, I'm looking to see who's leaning in, I'm looking to see who's sitting back thinking they got it all figured out,” he said. “If I'm doing all the talking something's wrong.” 

Understanding that people have different learning styles and adapting to them is something Roger believes trainers need to understand. Even going so far as adapting to the questions younger generations have is something that needs to be considered. Roger states that millennials and gen Z want to know why they are doing something rather than just how to do it. 

“People at the highest level or lowest level of the organization, when they need to make a decision, they have to understand the intent of what it is they're doing,” Roger said. “So, in training, we have to do a better job of explaining why now and really helping them see the bigger picture.” 

Learn more about Estimating Edge in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.estimatingedge.com.