184: Becoming the Employer of Choice for A-players with Adam McKee

We are shining the Great Places to Work spotlight on Adam McKee and Contemporary Woods. Adam has been through our How to Hire the Best course, and he is being intentional in working to become the employer of choice to attract the A-players he wants. He is proof that simple changes can improve the culture of a business. 

Adam McKee has been a craftsman his whole life, learning to build and wire homes from an early age through working with his dad and grandfather. He continued learning craftsmanship through fine woodworking in high school, residential carpentry in his associate’s degree, and construction management in his bachelor’s degree. After finishing his bachelor’s degree, an opportunity came to buy an existing business, Contemporary Woods, which specializes in custom furniture and woodworking. We fast-forward almost ten years later to find that Adam has learned a lot more than craftsmanship along the way, including how to be a better leader, entrepreneur, father, and learning to inspire others to celebrate craftsmanship. Adam has been married to his wife for 12 years, and they make their home in Lincoln, Nebraska, with their two young sons and two dogs. 

Join us to hear how “today’s Adam” is a much different business owner than when he started his entrepreneurial journey!

 

 Profit by Design is a Tap the Potential Production in collaboration with Small Business Consulting Group.

Show Highlights:

• The entrepreneurial journey–how it started for Adam and wasn’t at all what he expected!
• How Adam learned that being a critical micro-manager was NOT the best management style
• The turning point for Adam in 2019: learning, growing, and making changes to improve the culture
• How Adam simplified to three basic steps: sort, sweep and standardize
• What Adam looks for in A-players for Contemporary Woods
• Be a better leader! The best leaders take ownership of the problems and don’t blame their employees.
• Simple changes that have improved the culture at Contemporary Woods, like one-on-one conversations, feedback, and asking the right questions
• The value in reading books together as a team–and how Adam makes it work at Contemporary Woods
• Team-building lessons from a people-pleaser
• Problem-solving vs. finger-pointing—there is a BIG difference!
• Adam’s example of dealing with a client over a sticky issue while protecting his team, empowering the client, and showing respect to everyone
• Adam’s vision for Contemporary Woods in the celebration of craftsmanship

Connect with Adam: 

 

Contemporary Woods, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Email: [email protected] or call 402-430-7381

Adam's Calendly Link

Adam’s FREE gift: Visit www.contemporarywoods.com to book a ½-hour design session to develop your custom design.

 

Mentioned by Adam and Dr. Sabrina: 

 

 Derek Sivers, First Follower: Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy

 Ted Talk by Derek Sivers - How to Start a Movement

2 Second Lean by Paul Akers

The Ideal Team Player and The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick M. Lencioni

Start With Why by Simon Sinek

 

Links and Resources:

Learn more about the next How to Hire the Best course. It starts in April!

New! Now Available!! The 4 Week Vacation book with bonuses!

Download Dr. Sabrina’s Introductory Training: How to Make Your Time Worth $10,000 an Hour

Join Dr. Sabrina in our Entrepreneurs Take Your Live Back! Community