Boosting Profitability With Engaged Trade Teams [webinar]

We recently hosted a webinar featuring Inova’s Chief Growth Officer, Kathey Palmer, who shared a ton of insight on how to tackle the unique workforce challenges facing the trades today. Below, you’ll find a recap of Kathey’s main points—what the most pressing issues are, why employee engagement should be a top priority, and how leveraging smart HR strategies and technology can drive real business results. If any of this resonates, be sure to catch the full recording for all the details.

Key Workforce Challenges in the Trades

Before diving into engagement and empowerment, Kathey kicked things off by highlighting some common hurdles trade businesses are grappling with:

• Recruiting and Talent Acquisition: Skilled labor shortages and an aging workforce make hiring especially difficult.
• Retention and Turnover: Physical demands and tough working conditions often lead to high turnover if not addressed.
• Training and Development: Many employees crave opportunities to grow and upskill—especially in industries where safety and accuracy are key.
• Wage and Benefit Pressures: Competitive compensation matters, but culture and career growth can sometimes tip the scales more effectively than higher pay alone.

A live poll of attendees confirmed that recruiting remains the top challenge, followed closely by retaining skilled employees and offering meaningful development opportunities.

Why Engagement and Empowerment Matter

Engagement isn’t just a “feel-good” concept. According to Kathey, companies with highly engaged teams see:

• Reduced Turnover (Team members who feel supported and valued are more likely to stick around.)
• Increased Productivity and Safety (Engaged employees pay closer attention to detail, resulting in fewer mistakes and accidents.)
• Higher Profitability

Kathey pointed out that true empowerment builds on top of engagement. First, you need a solid foundation of engaged workers who believe in your mission. Then you can give them more autonomy, decision-making power, and resources to excel.

Building an Engaged Workforce: Top Strategies

Kathey offered several ways to create an environment where employees feel motivated and empowered:

1. Listen and Learn: Regular one-on-one check-ins can uncover personal goals, outside pressures, and career aspirations—info you can use to foster deeper engagement.
2. Recognize and Reward: Whether it’s a handwritten note or public shout-out, recognition sends a strong message that you value your team.
3. Nurture Growth: Employees—especially younger ones—expect training and development. Providing career paths, mentorship, and upskilling programs can make your workplace more appealing.
4. Prioritize Well-Being: Consider creative benefits and policies that alleviate stress, promote health, and support financial wellness.
5. Hire for Attitude, Train for Skill: Recruiting people who share your company values often pays off more than chasing technical expertise alone.
6. Clarify Your Mission and Values: A clear, employee-focused mission statement sets the tone for everything you do and reminds everyone why they come to work each day.

The Role of HR Technology

One of the most eye-opening parts of the webinar was how modern HR tools can streamline the entire employee life cycle. From applicant tracking to digital onboarding and performance reviews, the right platform helps you:

• Communicate in real time, especially crucial in the trades, where employees are often in the field.
• Automate routine tasks to save time and prevent mistakes.
• Track engagement and development via pulse surveys, mobile hubs, and quick feedback loops to stay informed about morale and identify red flags early.

Kathey also emphasized how integrations—like the partnership between Team Engine and Inova—can cut down on manual data entry and ensure a smooth handoff from “applicant” to “employee.”

For a deeper dive into each of these topics—including some great personal anecdotes and specific software recommendations—don’t miss the full recording. Kathey’s tips will help you reimagine how you recruit, develop, and retain top-notch talent for the long haul.