Managing a Diverse Workforce with the Skills-Motivation Matrix
As arborists, we understand that different trees have different needs. We understand that to help trees grow and thrive, we must consider the cultural needs of the tree to provide an ideal environment for growth and development. To address the specific needs of each tree, we apply our understanding of species profiles and relate those […]
Training Employees from Underserved Populations
Training employees is one of the primary challenges of any company. If that employee comes from an underserved-population demographic, then that just adds another layer of complexity to the training task. Depending on who you ask and what industry that person is in, you will hear a wide range of what training is. If you […]
The “Green” Industry: Training New Hires
Newbie, greenhorn, apprentice, #$@!%# new guy – we all know the terminology for the newly hired person on your crew. What was your first day on the job like? Was there an orientation and safety training, or were you stuck onto a crew and told “Don’t get killed”? Mine was the latter. Staffing continues to […]
Rigging Is a Team Sport
There are few aspects in tree work that require coordinated teamwork. Efficient climbers can perform a good portion of their trim work without the direct aid of a ground person. Ground workers can usually process and transport tree debris to the chipper without aid from a co-worker. If the material is too large, it can […]
Knotting Really Matters
As working arborists, ropes are a vital part of our daily work. From climbing to rigging, rope is a ubiquitous component of our systems. As soon as you give a rope a job, it becomes a line, and a line requires a connection to something to do its job. While there may be many ways […]