Landscape Management, November 2018

Continued from page 35 vision into actual results through setting and achieving measurable priorities and monitoring that the company is on track After reading Traction Katerberg was hooked It was my shiny object at the moment I made all my people read it he says The company integrated the lessons of the book for six months on its own before hiring an EOS consultant called an implementer who helps bring EOS principles into companies It was a big financial decision to take the plunge and work with Jim Coyle of Nexus Business Solutions The engagement was a two year process but only for 10 days of hands on time over those two years at a cost of 50000 For a small company thats like hiring a new employee for 10 days Katerberg says Despite the cost Katerberg says implementing EOS was a gamechanger because Grapids needed some direction I know some people who have implemented EOS on their own and they have some good systems for that online too but I just felt like I wasnt the person to do it he says According to Katerberg EOS has gotten everyone on the same page Thats why they call it traction the wheels are all pulling in the same direction he says We all know what our purpose is who were looking for employee wise we know whos not stepping up because were measuring it we all know where our struggles are you can ask any member of my leadership team The new system has created an improved environment at Grapids allowing team members to have more opportunity to succeed on their own with less micromanagement Katerberg says The changes also have freed up more time for the Grapids owner to be the visionary for the company and focus on projects and initiatives that are important to him such as 36 LANDSCAPEMANAGEMENT NET NOVEMBER 2018 planning to climb Mount Aconcagua in South America in 2019 to raise money for the Lifewater charity The money will provide clean water and sanitation training in countries such as Cambodia and Uganda For me personally I feel like Im in the right seat for the first time in my career Katerberg says Its a really good feeling THE INTEGRATOR For Katerberg to get into the right seat the visionary role of president CEO he had to fill the integrator role also known as the general manager or COO Ideally the visionary and the integrator should have a yin and yang type of relationship Katerberg says Im the scatterbrained person who brings ideas like climbing mountains to raise money he admits The integrator is the one who keeps me from driving people crazy with new ideas filters them and brings things down to earth that are actually functional the one who makes things happen Finding someone to fill the integrator role wouldnt come cheap according to his research which showed that integrators command a salary in the range of 150000 to 300000 depending on the industry Thats a high ticket number which is why 500000 companies typically dont hire one says Katerberg Katerberg and his team agreed that the company would be stuck at the 2 million mark without someone COVER STORY TAKING A PULSE From left Sales Manager Randy Small Katerberg Tiscareno Business Manager Christina Edsall and Sullivan discuss goals in a weekly meeting DREAM TEAM From left Grapids Operations Manager Tony Tiscareno CEO Aaron Katerberg and General Manager Matthew Sullivan PHOTOS ED KOZIARSKI HOMESICK BLUES PRODUCTIONS