Rosie’s Tip of the month – Finding the Time for Learning The most common sentence I hear is: "We don’t have time for training" It is a concerning trend that people in the industry do not have time to attend workshops, in-house trainings or take time to do online training. Thus, it begs the question how do people access up-to- date information and keep on track? And whilst that may be true in these busy times – the real fact is a dedicated time set aside for training and keeping up to date is NOT a priority in YOUR organisation or to YOU. People who succeed in finding the time ha ..read more

Coming back to work after summer holidays can be hard. People get itchy feet – the song by the Clash comes to mind - should I stay or should I go? Is there a better job for me or should I stick with this one that pays the bills? Shall I start my own business or work for myself as a consultant and contract back to my employer? I’ve been in all these positions and reflect back in my Y2K decision to leave my safe government job to become self-employed. What colour is your parachute was a very influential book for me and over the years I have invested heavily in y own learning and development ..read more

A few things to add to your Christmas list. Because it’s that time of the year when you are busy finishing off projects with real Christmas deadlines looming, I thought I would take this opportunity to do an end of year review of building compliance with you. This is a chance to stocktake activity that you have commenced in 2017 and see what needs to be finished off before the New Year starts (or soon thereafter). So here we go with a quick check-in: Building Compliance Check-In   Are any of your projects still stuck in consent processing phase at Council? What’s the holdup? Inquire w ..read more

Image credit: Claudia Hatherill - illustration It can take ONE thing to increase productivity and healthy growth, the trick is finding that ONE thing and then applying an action on a consistent basis.   A healthy plant/organisation versus a struggling to survive one When I first learned to grow tomatoes I learned ONE thing, just ONE, that made a huge difference in me producing edible delicious cherry tomatoes. Pruning the laterals! Laterals: Nice leafy green bits of the plant that grow fast and in abundance but produce NO fruit! When you don’t prune them……they end up choking the frui ..read more

In a Compliance or Regulatory role, you hold the balance of power. Often, it’s a monopoly service the customer does not have a choice who to go to. While we recognise this also means you have no choice when dealing with difficult customers, for today we are looking at things from a much more empowering perspective, what you can do, so when it comes to your customers experience….   You are it   The customer can be approaching you in a vulnerable way. From an imbalance of power. They are often emotional (they are stressed trying to get a consent to start building or they want to buy a ..read more

Check out the guidance handbook referred to in this video HERE Check out our online school HERE ..read more

Answer: No What to find out about more DIY work you can do without a building consent Check out our online course HERE ..read more

Many of you in building compliance are fearful of firing or ditching a client who is not taking building safety seriously. You know the one - the one who gets you in at the last minute (month 11) then doesn't use you next year. The one who promises to fix defects and a year later the same deal. The one who threatens to shop around on you if you don't give them a 12A or a BWOF. You all know the consequences of being strong armed into signing a 12A when you shouldn't BUT are you aware of the consequences year after year of BAD CLIENT BEHAVIOUR. Thinking about how to fire a client can be unset ..read more

What a week it has been in the world of communications coaching and training, from private sessions, small business training and a full day public workshop specifically for the building industry, I have only had solid confirmations of what I already knew. Almost all conflict originally stems from a few things, and there is something we can all do about it before there is 'blood on the floor': Misunderstood or misinterpreted communication Difference of opinions or perceptions Unmet expectations Assumptions, judgements or pre-conceived ideas Personality ‘clashes’ From there, how it works ou ..read more

​We’ve become rather scared of the word “liability” – afraid to sign documents like PS3s or 12As – who knew that paper could be so scary! Some Councils are even afraid to sign Certificates of Acceptance (even though they can limit their liability in doing so to what they have been able to see! But haven’t we always been potentially liable for work we have done or not done – for building items we have inspected or failed to see? If we have done the right thing by the client and ourselves then what is the real issue? Is it that we have a systemic culture of short changing the clients this leadi ..read more