Improve Leadership Skills to Achieve Career Goals

Do you have ambitions to build your HVAC & Refrigeration career and eventually move into a management or other leadership role? If so, here’s some advice to help you improve leadership skills now so you stand out as a qualified candidate for promotions or new opportunities.

What makes a great leader in the HVACR industry?

First of all, it’s helpful to understand what qualities are needed to become a successful leader in the HVACR industry. That gives you more specific targets for what you need to work on to achieve your goals. Here are some important skills and qualities to work on:

• Knowledge and experience. It’s difficult to manage others doing work that you don’t fully understand yourself. That’s why some of the best managers in HVACR spent years working in the field, and have personally experienced the challenges and the requirements of performing great HVACR service.
• Listening and communication skills. Great leadership often starts with listening. That means actively seeking out feedback and information from others, paying attention when they provide it, then taking action when appropriate. Being able to clearly communicate verbally and in writing is also essential, to avoid misunderstandings and ensure that instructions and policies are carried out as intended. 
• Problem solving ability. As a technician, you solve equipment problems all day long, so you already have foundational problem solving skills. But as a manager, there are a whole host of other types of problems you will have to deal with. Some examples may include supply chain issues, dealing with rising costs, hiring, vehicle maintenance, and more. A creative problem-solver can be a great asset in HVACR management.
• Handling conflict. As a manager, you’ll often be called upon to handle issues with unhappy customers. You need the skills to diffuse the situation, figure out a solution that satisfies the customer but isn’t a burden to the company, and do everything you can to keep the customer and avoid damage to your reputation.
• Planning ahead. Solving problems is essential, but being able to foresee potential problems and acting to avoid them is just as important. Managers also use this skill to recognize opportunities others may overlook, and help the business make smart decisions.

5 ways to improve leadership skills and advance your career 

1. Work on “soft skills” as well as “hard skills”

Industry knowledge and technical expertise are very valuable, as you already know. But that’s not enough to be a good manager. To improve your leadership skills and make yourself a great candidate for promotion, make the effort to improve the so-called “soft skills” mentioned above. 

There are a few ways to go about this:

• Read content online as well as great business books, watch videos and listen to podcasts about leadership.
• Talk to the managers at your company. Learn more about what they do and get advice about how you can build your own skills.
• Practice using the skills mentioned here in your current job and in other areas of your life. 

Here are a few articles to get you started.

• How to Build Relationships with Customers
• How to Use Time Wisely & Get More Done
• Sales Psychology for HVAC & Refrigeration

2. Develop your personal discipline

Building new skills takes discipline and commitment. You can start by setting small personal goals, developing a plan to achieve them, and working through your plan one step at a time until you succeed. Then keep working at it until you internalize the new skill and it becomes second nature.

Here’s an example. Let’s say you realize that you need to be more organized if you want to become a manager. So make a plan: within a month, you’ll have your work vehicle organized. Break that down into small tasks you can do each day to achieve that. Once you reach that goal, come up with a plan to make sure you keep your truck organized. Next, apply your new organizational skills to another task, like organizing your kitchen. 

3. Ask for more responsibilities

If your goal is to improve your leadership skills and become a manager, let others know what you want to take on more responsibilities at your company. 

Ask your managers what tasks they may need help with that you can take off their shoulders. There may be work that requires additional training, such as using specific computer systems or learning how to manage parts inventory. Be willing to spend time learning and taking on new tasks to help the company. The things you learn will make you more valuable and build your readiness to be a manager one day.

4. Be a good follower

Great leaders start by being good followers. That means treating others with respect and consideration and respecting their authority. 

It also means learning to accept criticism and learn from it. It  means being open to ideas from others. It means accepting when certain situations are outside your control.

When you demonstrate respect for your co-workers and managers, you gain respect from them in return. And that’s something that every manager must have.

5. Find a mentor

If you want to become a manager, ask a manager who you respect and admire to be your mentor. Then you’ll have a formal relationship with someone who can guide you on your path, and teach you everything you need to know.

Here’s an article that can help you get the most from working with a mentor:

Mentor/Mentee Relationship: How to Get the Most Benefit

More content on improving leadership skills and building soft skills

Here is a profile on an HVAC manager that can inspire you.

HVAC Career Spotlight: Service Manager

Also, check out our training articles to learn the skills you need to get ahead.

HVACR Career Connect NY was created to promote the exceptional quality-of-life benefits of a career in HVAC and Refrigeration service, and also to provide a clear path for getting started in the profession. In doing so, we serve as a resource for employers in the New York City metro area to find and hire smart and capable new technicians. We also serve as an educational resource to support business growth and to help service technicians succeed in their chosen profession.