Leadership Toolbox

The Power of Subtle Listening: How Music can Influence Leadership

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Discover how a song or other artistic expression can impact the way your team views your leadership and encouragement in the drilling field and beyond.

From Captain to Coach: How High School Baseball Made Me a Better Leader

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Discover how coaching baseball taught Jake Fletcher leadership lessons, improving his personal and professional life.

Relinquishing Control: How to Let Others Lead

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The only way to avoid having the best ideas and innovations buried in the graveyard is to allow others the opportunity to explore and try new things.

10 Days in May: How do we Measure Success?

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Defining success looks different from drilling to coaching to military leadership, but the core principles remain the same. Find out how Captain Fletch uses his varied experiences to ensure all of his teams are 'game-ready.'

Climbing the Ladder or Playing for the Team

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Thu, 09 May 2024 05:00:00 -0400

"I believe there are some people bound for senior leadership, some bound to lead where they are among the people, and a rare few who can do both."

The Solutions-Oriented Leader

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 09:00:00 -0500

When a problem exists, bring solutions, not complaints.

Lead Drill Crews or Companies? Get Comfortable with Failure

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Challenging jobsites and projects are a fact, so good leaders leverage major fails into lessons learned.

The Value of Time for You, Your Drilling Crews

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Whether it’s a staff meeting or a Groundwater Week meet and greet, let purpose drive your interactions.

An Unavoidable Price of Leading Good People

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Tue, 24 Oct 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Good workers in challenging drilling, construction jobs often have career options. Good leaders support them.

Extracting the Core of Your Crews: What Do They Want?

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Tue, 19 Sep 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Open dialogue upfront about expectations on both sides can help drilling, construction hiring and retention.

Success with a Drilling, Construction Team? Go Ahead, Feel Pride

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Pride doesn’t have to precede a downfall if team leaders approach it with a proper sense of balance.

Drilling, Construction Projects in Bite-Sized Pieces

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Tue, 18 Jul 2023 16:00:00 -0400

Think about a major project at the resource level, develop a manageable to-do list and avoid being overwhelmed.

Breaking Drilling, Construction Projects into Milestones

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 09:00:00 -0400

Good leaders celebrate small wins along the way, help construction and drilling teams keep eye on completion.

Drill Crews on Cruise: The Power of Positivity

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 09:00:00 -0400

When a team — on a drill project or baseball diamond — has a bad season, change in focus can be catalyst for success.

In Your Job, Your Company, a Legacy to ‘the Next Guy’

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Tue, 14 Mar 2023 10:00:00 -0400

The next man or woman who fills your role can benefit from training, a hand-off with intention.

When Hiring Drilling Crews, Do You Look Beyond Pre-Qualifications?

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Having standards for filling a position helps; but if that’s all you look for, you may miss good candidates.

Vision and Audience: Communication for Construction Pros

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 09:00:00 -0500

Drafting, review, feedback all critical to effective messaging to any team, from drillers to office workers.

Stages of Drill Team Development, Part 5: Ending

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Tue, 13 Dec 2022 09:00:00 -0500

In ‘ending’ phase, crews finalize project, give and receive feedback, and get the recognition they deserve.

Stages of Drill Team Development, Part 4: Performing

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 09:00:00 -0500

In ‘performing’ phase, crew executes on real tasks, while continuing to evaluate and improve.

Stages of Drill Team Development, Part 3: Norming

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 09:00:00 -0400

‘Norm’ phase allows developing teams to explore trust and hold each other accountable.

Stages of Drill Team Development, Part 2: Storming

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Like boiling water, the ‘storm’ phase can roil a team, but leaders harness those passions toward the job goal.

Stages of Drill Team Development, Part 1: Forming

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Whether your team drills holes or supports those who do, the formation phase sets the purpose and direction.

Keeping Your Cool on High-Stress Drilling, Construction Jobs

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Fri, 22 Jul 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Running heavy equipment like drill rigs, or managing those who do, requires composure under pressure.

Building a Drilling, Construction Team? Try Feedback

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Teams that find effective ways to give, receive feedback and unleash their potential for growth.

Motivation in Tough Drilling, Construction Leadership Roles

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Fri, 20 May 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Rebuilding a faltering team? Have a good basic framework and remember it’s not about you.

Batting Cleanup: Taking Over a Team in Chaos

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

Tips for getting drill teams, projects back on track after weak leadership leaves them faltering.

Establishing a Mentoring Culture in the Drilling Industry

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 09:00:00 -0400

In today’s column, we explore how mentorship can relate to professional, personal leadership.

Taking Calculated Risks as a Drilling Industry Leader

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Fri, 11 Feb 2022 14:00:00 -0500

Company and jobsite leaders can often benefit from considering non-traditional candidates.

A Historical Approach to Drill Crew Motivation

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Wed, 12 Jan 2022 09:00:00 -0500

What is a leader to do with unclear project goals or tasks crews feel overqualified for?

Patience and Adversity on the Job and Off

jacob.william.fletcher@gmail.com (Jake Fletcher) — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 09:00:00 -0500

Grabbing another tool in the toolbox, we explore how common words relate to professional, personal leadership.