From Journeyman to Workforce Manager: What the Trade Taught Me About Leadership

When I started in the electrical trade, I did not have a long-term career plan. I graduated high school in 2003, worked part time for an electrician, and heard him ask a simple question: 

"Have you ever thought about being an electrician?" 

At the time, there was a strong push for everyone to go to college, so I tried that route for a year. It did not take long to realize the electrical trade was a better fit. I started working full time as an apprentice, went through the ABC of Iowa apprenticeship program in Iowa City, and earned my Journeyman license in 2011. That same year, I came to Interstates as a Journeyman. 

I started in what is now our Sioux Center Office. Over time, I moved into a Foreman-level role, project planning and layout, prefab design, and eventually workforce planning. 

That path shapes how I think about growth in this trade. Career growth is not only about chasing the next title. It is about learning the work, owning your mistakes, taking care of your crew, and being willing to step into responsibility when the opportunity comes. 

What I Underestimated Early 

When I was younger, I underestimated the physical effort the trade takes. 

For people who like working with their hands and seeing what they built, this can be rewarding work. But you have to take care of yourself. Use the tools provided. Use them as intended. Do not try to prove something by lifting what should be moved another way. 

I also underestimated how much I would keep learning. 

Skill matters, but in industrial electrical work, no one knows everything. We work across enough facilities, systems, and industries that you are always learning. The people who stand out are the ones who keep the right attitude while they learn. 

The Mistake That Changed How I Saw Leadership 

Early in my career, I laid out a trench duct for an MRI room before the concrete was poured. About four weeks later, the framer found a problem. The trench duct was about 12 feet away from the wall it was supposed to be in. 

I thought I was going to get fired. 

The leader I was working for helped me fix it. When it was done, I was waiting for the lecture. 

Instead, he asked: 

"What did you learn?" 

That stuck with me. 

That is leadership: high expectations, accountability, respect, and teaching through mistakes instead of tearing somebody down.

He did not ignore the mistake. We fixed it. But he also understood that a good leader uses moments like that to make someone better. 

Good Field Leadership Starts With the Crew 

The best leaders I worked with in the field put the crew first. They thought about safety, made sure people had the tools and resources they needed, and had a plan for the work. 

When something went wrong, they stepped in, helped fix it, and taught along the way. They celebrated the crew's successes and took ownership when things didn't go as planned, creating trust and setting the example for everyone around them. 

Moving into a Foreman or Superintendent role can bring greater opportunity, but it should not be about pay alone. 

Leading people is harder than many people think. You own the crew’s safety, productivity, quality, morale, experience, and output. You need to want that responsibility and be willing to train, mentor, and support others at the same time. 

One thing I appreciate is that Interstates does not assume leadership comes automatically just because someone is a good electrician. Leadership has to be learned and practiced too. Programs like Field Leader Excellence help reinforce planning, communication, coaching, accountability, and safety decision-making. 

Safety Has to Live in the Work 

Industrial work comes with real hazards. You may work in hot, loud environments. You may work at heights. You may work around chemicals, gases, energized systems, refrigeration systems, or operating equipment. 

Every environment has hazards, and you have to respect them. 

Safety cannot be only a policy. It has to be part of the culture. 

Stop Work Authority matters. If someone is not comfortable doing something, or if they are told to do something they know is not right, they have the authority to stop and escalate the situation. Our people need to know they will be backed up. 

That is not only a safety practice. It is a leadership practice. It shapes whether people trust the crew enough to speak up.

For a broader look at the kind of jobsite environment that supports that, read The Kind of Jobsite You Deserve. 

Growth Comes From Responsibility 

People sometimes think leadership starts when they get the title. 

I do not see it that way. 

The people who stand out usually carry influence before they are officially in charge. They communicate well. They pay attention. They ask better questions. They look out for the people around them. They take responsibility instead of waiting to be told what to do. 

Basically, leadership is influence. You do not have to be the boss to be a leader.

There Is More Than One Way to Build a Career 

A successful career does not look the same for everyone. 

Some people pick one path and stay in it for 40 years, and there is nothing wrong with that if they enjoy the work. But more people today want options. 

That is one thing Interstates does well. Someone may start as an electrician and later move into project management, manufacturing, engineering, design, VDC, planning, workforce planning, licensing, or compliance. 

Some continue traveling in a different role. Some move from national travel into regional work when they want to settle into one area. Others move from regional work into travel to gain exposure to larger projects. 

If you are weighing those paths, read National or Regional? What I Tell Electricians When They Ask. 

I did not expect to be in the role I am in now. Sometimes opportunity comes when you are ready for a change, and sometimes it takes a leap of faith to try something new. 

The important thing is that there is a runway. 

What I Would Tell a Younger Electrician 

If I could talk to myself earlier in my career, I would tell myself to pay attention to more than the task in front of me. 

Learn the work, but also learn how good leaders communicate. 

• Watch how they plan. 
• Watch how they correct people. 
• Watch how they respond when something goes wrong. 

I would also say not to count yourself out of growth. You may not know exactly where your career will lead. I did not. 

But if you keep learning, take responsibility, and stay willing to step into the next challenge, you may end up somewhere you never expected. 

Ready to Build What Comes Next? 

Explore current electrician opportunities or learn more about electrician careers at Interstates.