we work to eradicate the "pain that has been killing" construction industry contractors' productivity and profits: 
front line labor turnover
.

today! not in 5 years

QUALIFY • ONBOARD • TRAIN • RETAIN
advancing the construction industry by reducing labor turnover from the bottom up

Why The Common Thread

We think differently.  We flip the focus from top down initiatives to bottom-up actions.  We help you succeed through simple shifts.

The Problem:  Reducing front-line labor turnover is a challenge every contractor in the construction industry is aware of, but doesn’t know how to tackle.  The industry average of 50 – 65% front-line labor turnover is costing millions. Industry leaders, educational organizations and the government are all launching top-down initiatives to fix this turnover problem.  These long term programs have proven successful in putting more trained workers in the pipeline.  So why is it taking so long?

The numbers just don’t add up. And here’s why:

#1:  The market demand is increasing at a pace with which these programs cannot keep up.

#2:  There is a contractor misconception that “If I just had enough good workers, I could meet demand.”  But, when more workers hit their front door, the current culture and systems still result in a 50 – 65% churn.

Do you really know your best-of-the-best front-line laborers?  What makes them ideal, why do they stay, what makes them “tick?”

WE DO.

about.

integrating top down with bottom up

QUALIFY • ONBOARD • TRAIN • RETAIN
advancing the construction industry by reducing labor turnover from the bottom up

We believe that change is driven from the top down, but successful results happen from the bottom up.  Most companies only focus on top-down initiatives.  The Common Thread overlays a path to successful execution, working from the bottom up.

Success lies at your core – we need to affect your DNA to keep up with the science.  Our focus areas:  Qualify  ▪  Onboard  ▪  Train  ▪  Retrain are applied on the front lines through a cultural shift.

We integrate top-down and bottom-up methods through an experiential approach that results in a fast, custom, turn-key shift in the way you do business.  With our unique process, change starts the minute we complete your two-week engagement.  We solve your turnover problem WHILE you wait for the industry to supply more and better workers.

You don’t have to wait!
In fact, you don’t even have to make a big change.
All you need to do is PIVOT.

approach.

our method to your success

QUALIFY • ONBOARD • TRAIN • RETAIN
advancing the construction industry by reducing labor turnover from the bottom up

Phase I: Branch PIVOT Process

Drives a Reduction in Turnover

We call our process the PIVOT because we aren’t creating huge change. We are taking your good work and adding a few “shifts” in the way things are done. Sometimes, just a pivot can be a game-changer.

Phase II: Front Line Drip Training App

Drives an additional reduction in turnover and measurable results to your bottom line

(Today we provide interim manual training tools.  Videos on an App will be available in late 2018)

Create Your “Best-of-the-Best” Front-Line Laborer Standard Profile:

  • Learn to hire right the first time
  • Compare your workers against our National Performance Index
    • What motivates them?
    • What are the ideal behavior traits of a front-line laborer in your branch?
    • Discover what makes them ideal, why they stay, what makes them “tick”

Integrate Your Standard Into the Employee Experience:

  • Engage all departments that work with front-line laborer onboarding, training and the new hire experience
  • Coach/shift what managers look for in high-performing workers
  • Pinpoint your bottlenecks and turnover costs
  • Create on-boarding and training tools to shift the rolls of employees who impact the front-line laborer

On-boarding Videos to Attract, Recruit, Train and Retain

  • How piece rate works – How to make more money
  • Great opportunities available to them in the organization
  • Why they are uniquely qualified to install
  • They Matter – goals, safety, quality & special skills
  • Expectations no one tells them
  • To understanding the real impacts of theft

Ongoing In-Field Video Vignettes That Increase/ Improve Quality Work and Job Site Efficiency

  • You have things you want to tell your labor force, but you don’t have time or can’t get concepts across to them. Give them a reason to care.
  • Keeps labor in the field while delivering training & knowledge in small, absorbable bites on the job
    • Building science, codes, etc.
    • House as a system, inspections
  • “WOW factor” for branch, corporation and investors:
    • Reduced turnover
    • Decreased costs
    • Increased performance
    • Solidifies Builder relationships by delivering results in the field

Phase I: Branch PIVOT Process

Drives a Reduction in Turnover

We call our process the PIVOT because we aren’t creating huge change.  We are taking your good work and adding a few “shifts” in the way things are done.  Sometimes, just a pivot can be a game-changer.

Create Your “Best-of-the-Best” Front-Line Laborer Standard Profile:

  • Learn to hire right the first time
  • Compare your workers against our National Performance Index
    • What motivates them?
    • What are the ideal behavior traits of a front-line laborer in your branch?
  • Discover what makes them ideal, why they stay, what makes them “tick”

Integrate Your Standard Into the Employee Experience:

  • Engage all departments that work with front-line laborer on-boarding, training and the new hire experience
  • Coach/shift what managers look for in high-performing workers
  • Pinpoint your bottlenecks and turnover costs
  • Create on-boarding and training tools to shift the rolls of employees who impact the front-line laborer

Phase II: Front Line Drip Training App

Drives an additional reduction in turnover and measurable results to your bottom line

(Today we provide interim manual training tools.  Videos on an App will be available in late 2018)

On-boarding Videos to Attract, Recruit, Train and Retain

  • How piece rate works – How to make more money
  • Great opportunities available to them in the organization
  • Why they are uniquely qualified to install
  • They matter – goals, safety, quality & special skills
  • Expectations no one tells them
  • To understanding the real impacts of theft

Ongoing In-Field Video Vignettes That Increase / Improve Quality Work and Job Site Efficiency

  • You have things you want to tell your labor force, but you don’t have time or can’t get concepts across to them. Give them a reason to care.
  • Keeps labor in the field while delivering training & knowledge in small, absorbable bites on the job
    • Building science, codes, etc.
    • House as a system, inspections
  • “WOW factor” for branch, corporation and investors:
    • Reduced turnover
    • Decreased costs
    • Increased performance
    • Solidifies Builder relationships by delivering results in the field

team.

meet our uniquely qualified people

QUALIFY • ONBOARD • TRAIN • RETAIN
advancing the construction industry by reducing labor turnover from the bottom up

Our Team

Our combined years of experience in the construction and other industries enable us to bring advanced practices to help the delivery side of your business evolve and keep up with the building science side.

Patricia L. Rothwell

Patricia L. Rothwell

Innovatist

Patricia added more than 15 years serving clients outside of the construction industry to 10 years in insulation manufacturing enabling her to connect the dots between the top levels and the field. Patricia is a top-performer as a sales, marketing and building science professional who has spent a lot of time in the field with customers – researching needs and delivering award-winning, innovative solutions.
Sara H. Boatz

Sara H. Boatz

Pivotist

A 30-year seasoned business and communication strategist that takes companies, leaders, teams and individuals to the next level of growth and profitability.  Sara has worked with Patricia in various capacities for over 20 years.  Together they are solving the biggest problems identified by contractors before and after the downturn.

Strategic Collaborator/Partners

Top Construction Jobs

Top Construction Jobs

Careers That Work

Careers in construction are not what they used to be.  You will be part of a team…a group of amazing, hard-working people who will support you, and who want you to succeed.

EnergyLogic

EnergyLogic

Building Science & Training Expert

For more than eleven years, EnergyLogic as been on the leading edge of industry software development, and worked with HERS Auditors/Inspectors, and high-performance building consultants/business practices. They offer a new delivery model for front-line labor on the job site.

contact us.

to find out how we can drive measurable reusable results to your bottom line

QUALIFY • ONBOARD • TRAIN • RETAIN
advancing the construction industry by reducing labor turnover from the bottom up

We promise a different, fast and turn-key approach.  Call us to get started on creating lasting changes in your workforce turnover rate.  We’d love to share our experience, energy, strategic ability and innovative solutions with you.  Let’s start working together for effectively, timely results.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

resources.

learn more about industry trends and how to reduce turnover

QUALIFY • ONBOARD • TRAIN • RETAIN
advancing the construction industry by reducing labor turnover from the bottom up