Mike Persinger
August 13th, 2020
2 Min Read
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“The quicker we get to (the aspirational purpose), the more likely we are to figure out what to do next.”
—Jason Bingham, Trane Technologies
Jason Bingham, President of Residential HVAC and Supply at Trane Technologies, addressed a virtual session during Pantheon 2020, ServiceTitan’s annual conference for the trades, on leading with purpose. That is especially important during the changes brought on by the pandemic or other crisis situations. Here are some key takeaways:
1. Aligning a company around purpose makes everything possible.
If we believe our leadership can make a difference, Bingham said, then all things are possible. That requires accepting that something is happening, but knowing that with the right mindset you can bring growth. Aspiration becomes a powerful, intrinsic motivator.
“We have to have a mindset that says this is important and I can make a difference,” Bingham said. “We own this change, together we’re going to figure this thing out, and we’re going to be better for it.”
2. Crisis is the true test of leadership.
Trust is paramount, but it can be tested in challenging times. Amazing things can happen rapidly when teams have a high level of trust, Bingham said. How a company stands up to a challenge will define how much trust there is in the organization, from employees and customers.
“If we exceed their expectations, they’ll actually have more trust in the organization than had the challenge not happened at all,” Bingham said. “That’s the opportunity here, but it’s also the risk.”
3. Think about the opportunities that exist within a crisis.
What can we do to be proactive? "Challenges bring opportunity, and we can learn where the opportunity exists within the adversity,” Bingham said.
“Look for acceleration,” he said. “Where there is a rapid adoption of even a previously existing technology, that’s where … need exists and a new norm is being created.”
A good example is the shift to e-commerce in the HVAC space and more. Looking for opportunities like that makes your business more resilient.
