There are many ways people can develop their leadership skills and increase their involvement with a labor organization. This increased visibility, engagement and responsibility is something anyone can do at any point in their career. Following the Leadership Flowchart, here are some options for members seeking to hone their leadership skills. Remember that there is not any single right answer or pathway – pick a few things you’re interested in or passionate about and try them. You may be surprised at where they take you.
Leadership Flowchart
Whether you are a prospective applicant with limited experience in the construction world or have extensive experience and are looking to join the union, an apprenticeship is a good place to start.
Enrolling in an apprenticeship program will:
- Increase your networking circle – you’ll meet other apprentices and have opportunities to network with them about jobsite expectations, company policies, good/bad supervisors, tips and tricks when it comes to the tools, etc.
- Sharpen your skills – even if you have experience, you’ll have a safe place to try new work practices and share or learn new ideas.
- Expose you to some of the “hidden” protocols of the organization – both from the training side and the labor side. You’ll be introduced to business representatives, coordinators, organizers and staff who will be able to answer questions you have about the apprenticeship, the union or the JATC.
If you’re having trouble meeting or exceeding the minimum requirements for apprenticeship, there are many community organizations that can help. Pre-apprenticeship programs can help you build a resume, practice with mock interviews and even help tutor you with hands-on skills like math or reading a tape measure. There are a great number of math tutorials online to help you study for entrance examinations, and some training centers even hold math tutorial sessions for applicants. Many apprenticeship programs give extra “points” towards your application ranking based on experience with tools in a construction setting; however, that experience often doesn’t need to have been during employment. Volunteering for Habitat for Humanity or another building volunteer organization will not only help the community, it will also help you build your resume with experience in construction labor.
Most locals have committees – groups of people who meet on a regular basis to strategize about various aspects of their union, whether it be for contract negotiations, contractor partnering, political action, community volunteering, promotion of women/diversity, or member support services. Attend your union meetings regularly to learn more about committees that are active in your local, and talk with the people on committees that interest you about getting involved. If there’s a specific area that you feel passionate about but doesn’t have an existing committee, talk with your business manager or write them a letter explaining your thought process and what you’re willing to do to help. (Looking for a letter template? Check out the template forms for letters to business managers/executive boards on the SMART Women’s website Resource page.)
Becoming a supervisor of other workers requires a skill set that can take years to build. Using some of the actions mentioned above — like mentoring, sitting on a committee or volunteering — can help increase your awareness around the things you may need to work on to nab that lead position.
In addition, you can help yourself stand out at work by:
- Setting a good example by demonstrating punctuality, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn and coordinate with others. Remember that most leaders don’t want to hear about problems with a job – they want to hear how you propose to solve them. Practice communicating with others using this tip.
- Asking for a stretch assignment. These are jobs, positions or experience that will challenge you, test your abilities and help you grow. There are many times during these experiences where you will need to ask for guidance or help.
- Taking the initiative to educate yourself. Read books on leadership/management best practices, consider attending a leadership seminar or class, or explore your options for going back to school for construction management.
Like being involved in union activities? Ready to campaign for office? There are many elected positions within local unions you can run for – from executive board, to warden, to business agent or manager. (For more information on these offices, read the SMART Constitution.)
From SMART:
Outside SMART:
- The National Center for Women’s Equity in Apprenticeship and Employment at Chicago Women in Trades (CWIT)
- Oregon Tradeswomen
- National Tradeswomen Taskforce
- National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)
- Rowan University BA in Construction Management
- U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau
- Nontraditional Employment for Women (NEW) NYC
- Central Ohio Women in the Trades
- Tradeswomen Resources Map (Women’s Equity Center)
- Washington Women in Trades
- Vermont Works for Women
- Women in Nontraditional Employment Roles (WINTER)
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