Mastering Leadership in the Elevator Industry

To no surprise, the elevator industry is full of opportunities.

Hands-on work in the field can involve managing teams and and eventually running a business (or both). As an elevator business owner, you quickly realize that your version of success is all about how you lead your people and help the business grow.

In my experience, growth (of your team, your business, or the industry itself), plays a major role in that success. And as leaders, it’s our job to facilitate that growth.

Maybe you’re already leading a team or running a business.
Or maybe you’re an experienced manager who’s looking to take your leadership to the next level.

Either way, I want to talk to you because the biggest component in leadership is knowing to continually refine the way you lead. 

We’ve all heard the phrase “leaders are made, not born,” and if you’ve been in leadership for any length of time, you’ve probably figured out that the journey never really ends. Leadership requires constant self-improvement, adaptability, and the willingness to evolve with the challenges that come your way.

The hats we wear as leaders (think problem-solver, motivator, mentor, and communicator), are just the beginning. If we focus on sharpening these skills and continually improving how we engage with our teams, we can create a culture where both our people and our business thrive.

At least that's the dream, right?

The Journey of Leadership is Worth the Work

Leadership is a journey that never really ends. There’s always more to learn and always room to grow. That's the beauty in business. The leader you are today should look a lot different than the leader you are 5 years from now if you're focused on personal development.

And while you may feel like you’ve got a handle on things now, I’d argue that the best leaders are the ones who are always looking for ways to refine their approach. Strengthening your communication, learning how to effectively deal with conflict, and keeping up the team momentum requires continuous effort.

When you're managing teams in an industry like ours, where precision, safety, and client satisfaction are always top priority, leadership becomes even more critical. Every decision you make has an impact, not just on the project at hand but on the people around you.

And while technical expertise is important, strong leadership is what keeps your team engaged and set for success. The work your team does impacts people’s daily lives and how you lead them. It also influences their performance and how they grow (personally and professionally) along the way.

The Core Leadership Skills to Sharpen 

Sure, you know the ropes. But sometimes, the routine can cause us to lose sight of the skills that made us great leaders in the first place. As your role evolves, so do the needs of your team, your business, and the industry. These are the few areas that deserve your attention as you work to refine your leadership: 

1. Embrace the Role of a Mentor and Coach 

If you want your team to excel, you have to be willing to mentor and coach them. Your job is to help your team grow both in their technical skills and in their professional development. Hovering over them or micromanaging is not the way to go here. It's our responsibility to offer guidance and support, especially during the tough days, and showing them the bigger picture. 

You might be a great problem-solver when things go wrong in the operation, but the best leaders are the ones who can teach their teams how to solve problems themselves. When you empower your employees to take ownership of their tasks and decisions, you help them develop into leaders.

2. Sharpen Your Communication

It’s a simple fact: communication is key. The way you communicate with anyone and everyone in the industry has a domino effect. Your timing, tone, and approach to engaging with your team will shape their responses and how they feel about the company culture. 

As a leader, your ability to listen is just as important as your ability to speak. Make sure you’re actively listening to your team and responding to their needs. Is there a challenge on the job site? Is someone struggling with a task? When you show your team that you’re truly invested in their success, it helps foster those relationships and develops trust.

Effective communication also means being able to give constructive criticism. Feedback can actually suck to deliver—we all know that. But the key is to approach feedback with a mindset of growth. Constructive feedback shouldn't have anyone pointing fingers or assigning blame.

I spoke about this briefly on an episode of The Elevator Entrepreneur. Adam Thomas of Albany Elevator joined me and discussed his experience with taking over ownership of the family business. We discussed the importance of failure as a leader but not to dwell on it. When a mistake is made in a position of leadership, how you handle these moments is crucial.

Taking accountability for your own actions is what counts. Mistakes will happen and they’ll sting. Give yourself that same constructive criticism you’d give your team and do the inner work to ensure it doesn’t happen again. We’re all human! Remember that even on tough days.

3. Strengthen Your Conflict Resolution Skills

No matter how well you communicate or how strong your team is, conflict is inevitable. When there’s a disagreement between team members or a tough decision to be made, as a leader, you’ll need to handle conflict with calm and confidence. 

I know it seems daunting, but it's best to address conflict head-on. We should never avoid difficult conversations. What would that say about us and our leadership as a whole?

We have to manage it in a way that encourages problem-solving and maintains the cohesion of the team. When issues arise, stay calm, listen to both sides, and focus on a solution that’s fair and in the best interest of the team (not you, not him, not her).

Conflict resolution also ties into your ability to remain adaptable. Solutions require you to adjust your expectations or take a different approach than you originally planned. Your ability to do this without losing sight of your long-term goals is what separates the good leaders in our industry from great ones.

4. Keep Building Trust with Your Team 

Trust is the foundation of any successful team. And while you’ve probably worked hard to build trust with your employees, the reality is that trust is something you need to earn every single day. When you lead with integrity, make decisions that prioritize your team’s well-being and follow through on your promises made to them.

It’s also important to acknowledge and celebrate your team’s achievements. Acknowledge their hard work and let them know you see their contributions. Recognize their individual accomplishments and celebrate team milestones. Taking the time to show appreciation can help maintain a high level of morale and that is essential to retention.

Leverage Your Leadership for Continued Growth 

As you refine your leadership skills, it’s time to start thinking about how you can use those skills to grow both personally and professionally. If you’re a business owner, strong leadership will drive your growth.

For those of you leading established teams, your leadership can create a culture of continuous improvement, where employees feel empowered to innovate, take initiative, and strive for excellence. 

I’s also about personal growth. Leadership challenges you to evolve as an individual. The more you invest in yourself through training, mentorship, or self-reflection, the better you’ll be able to lead your team through the inevitable ups and downs that come with this industry. 

As a leader, we always need to be thinking long-term. It's not about right now but about what's to come. The more you invest in your leadership development, the more you’ll see the positive impact it has on your team, your business, and your own personal growth. 

So, take a moment to reflect on your leadership style, identify those improvement areas, and commit to continuous learning. Great leaders aren’t born—they’re made, one decision at a time.

Keep honing your skills, stay open to feedback, and always strive to be the best version of yourself as a leader. Your future self (and everyone else), will thank you. 

Here’s my 3 takeaways for your continued success as a leader in the elevator industry: 

1. Leadership is an ongoing journey. 
2. Continue to sharpen your core leadership skills. 
3. Fail and reflect often, so you can grow from those experiences. 

Tune into this episode of The Elevator Entrepreneur to hear more about mine and Adam Thomas’s personal leadership experiences. 

As always, stay safe out there, and I will continue to empower my fellow elevator entrepreneurs.