Claire Carreras from 1-Tom-Plumber shared how teams are actually built to succeed.
In this episode of The Restoration Rundown, I’m joined by Claire Carreras from 1-Tom-Plumber to talk about how teams are actually built and why so many aren’t set up to succeed.
Claire brings a unique perspective from leading operations in high-pressure service environments, transitioning into ownership, and unexpectedly, working in the thrash metal music scene before entering the trades.
We explore how team structure, roles, and expectations impact performance, why some teams struggle even with good people, and how to identify strengths in individuals that most companies overlook.
01:21 Introduction
03:53 Claire’s Background: Claire discusses her unconventional path into the restoration industry.
08:29 Core Philosophy: Claire explains the concept of “Your team sucks, and it’s all your fault.”
25:39 Common Leadership Pitfalls: Discussion on typical mistakes, such as mismanaged expectations, lack of clear roadmaps for employees, and the false belief that hiring expensive experts can solve systemic internal problems.
30:02 Impact on Business Growth: Leadership Analysis
35:08 Actionable Advice for Owners: Claire offers steps for owners feeling stuck, starting with admitting there is a problem, forgiving oneself, and choosing one specific thing to change and communicate to the team.
55:17 Hiring Strategies: Final insights on the importance of hiring.
If you’re a restoration business owner trying to build a team that actually performs, this conversation will give you a different way to think about it.
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Benjamin Ricciardi is the founder of Ironclad Restoration Marketing, A digital marketing agency that specializes in the Restoration and Cleaning industry based in South Florida. Benjamin is the author of The No Bulls**t Guide to Internet Marketing for Restoration Contractors and hosts The Restoration Rundown Podcast, a podcast that is focused on everything related to marketing and owning a Restoration and Cleaning Business. Connect with Benjamin and Ironclad Restoration Marketing on social media for the latest tips and tricks on how to grow your Restoration Business.