The Proactive Apprentice

Scenario: The Proactive Apprentice

Setting: A bustling residential neighborhood, a water-damaged home.

Characters:

• Marco: A newly trained, eager restoration technician.

• John: The experienced team lead, set in his ways.

Situation: Marco, fresh from his training and inspired by the "Leading from Below" guide, is assigned to John's team for a residential water damage restoration project. During the initial assessment, Marco notices that John consistently overlooks checking for leaks behind toilets. This concerns Marco, as he knows hidden leaks can lead to further damage, mold growth, and potential safety hazards.

Marco's Thoughts:

• "The guide emphasized the importance of thoroughness and proactive hazard identification."

• "I need to bring this to John's attention, but I don't want to seem like I'm criticizing him."

• "Maybe I can frame it as a learning opportunity or a way to improve efficiency."

Marco's Approach:

During a break, Marco casually approaches John:

"Hey John, I've been learning a lot from you about assessing water damage. I was curious, is there a reason why we don't usually check behind toilets? I noticed in my training that sometimes leaks can hide back there."

Marco listens attentively to John's response, which is likely along the lines of, "We usually don't have time for that," or "It's not a common issue."

Marco then responds constructively:

"That makes sense. I was just thinking that maybe by taking a quick peek, we could potentially prevent bigger problems down the road. It might even save us time in the long run if we catch those hidden leaks early on."

Outcome:

John, initially resistant to changing his routine, considers Marco's suggestion. He realizes that the extra minute spent checking behind toilets could indeed prevent callbacks and further damage. He acknowledges Marco's initiative and thanks him for the suggestion.

Key Takeaways:

• Marco effectively leads from below by respectfully raising a concern and suggesting a process improvement.

• He frames his observation constructively, focusing on the benefits of the change rather than criticizing John's existing approach.

• John, open to feedback, recognizes the value of Marco's suggestion and adjusts his process, demonstrating the positive impact of leading from below.