Leadership Pitfalls: 15 Ways Trades Businesses Fail

03/14/25 • 43 min

Leadership failures cost trades businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars every year through invisible expenses that never appear on balance sheets. When your leadership team lacks clear vision, transparent communication, and consistent accountability, the ripple effects damage everything from customer satisfaction to employee retention.
Corey Berrier draws from years of industry experience to expose the 15 critical reasons leadership teams fail in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and other skilled trades companies. He reveals how seemingly minor leadership shortcomings create major business problems—like how failing to enforce standards equally among high and low performers creates harmful inconsistency throughout your organization.
The financial implications are staggering. A bad hire costs approximately 50% of their annual salary when factoring in training resources, lost customer opportunities, and replacement expenses. For a company with 50 technicians cycling through just 10 poor hires annually, that represents a hidden $500,000 drain on profitability.
Beyond hiring practices, modern leadership requires embracing technological advancements that improve efficiency. Companies resistant to implementing effective CRM systems, digital tools, or service management software find themselves steadily losing market share to competitors whose teams can handle more service calls with greater ease and accuracy.
Perhaps most importantly, leadership directly shapes company culture. The best trades businesses have created environments so positive that they have potential employees lining up to join them, eliminating recruitment struggles entirely. Meanwhile, companies with toxic cultures perpetually struggle with turnover, underperformance, and customer complaints.
Ready to transform your leadership approach and unlock your business's true potential? This episode provides actionable strategies that drive profitability while creating a healthier workplace. When you serve your employees effectively, they'll naturally serve your customers exceptionally—creating sustainable growth and success.

https://coreyberrier.gumroad.com/

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Previous Episode

Mastering Trades and Business Growth - Todd Liles’ Journey and Insights

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In this episode of the Successful Life podcast, host Corey Berrier welcomes Todd Liles, founder of Service Excellence. Todd shares his remarkable journey, from his teenage years working in the trades, to becoming an influential figure in business consulting, coaching, and counseling for tradespeople. He delves into the distinctions between coaching, consulting, and counseling, and their unique impacts on businesses. Todd also recounts his early career challenges and successes, emphasizing the importance of building customer relationships and proactive mentoring in business growth. From personal anecdotes to professional advice, this episode is a treasure trove of insights for anyone looking to excel in the trades and business landscape.

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Next Episode

Why HVAC Technicians Fail...

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What separates successful HVAC service technicians from those who struggle? The answer goes far beyond technical skills.
Diving deep into the industry's most challenging pitfalls, this episode reveals the fifteen critical reasons why service technicians fail—and how these failures impact everyone involved. From the deceptively simple matter of technical knowledge to the often-overlooked importance of professional appearance, each factor creates a ripple effect that can make or break careers.
We explore real-world examples that demonstrate how even small mistakes—like failing to document a repair or neglecting to explain the urgency of a replacement part—can lead to significant consequences. A technician who can't clearly communicate why a capacitor needs replacing isn't just missing a sale; they're setting up their customer for a future emergency repair that could have been prevented.
Beyond the technical aspects, we examine the human elements that determine success: time management that respects customers' schedules, documentation that protects everyone involved, and the professional conduct that builds lasting trust. We acknowledge the challenges of role-playing communication scenarios (yes, most technicians hate it!) while emphasizing how critical these skills become in the field.
Whether you're a service technician looking to advance your career or a business owner wanting to build a stronger team, this episode provides actionable insights into the behaviors and practices that lead to sustainable success. Remember—when you consistently do the next right thing, you're not just securing your own future; you're elevating the standard for your entire team and industry.

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