Contractor Evolution 120. Strong Leadership In The Face Of Tragedy: Turnaround Of Year Winner - Stephen Osborne
Aug 9, 2023
Stephen Osborne, owner of The Osborne Company and winner of the Turnaround of the Year Award, shares his incredible journey of resilience after the sudden loss of his father. He faced family conflicts and a tense business climate, seeing profits plummet. Through strategic leadership and a focus on core values, he revitalized his company, which is now thriving with a 15% net profit. Stephen highlights how seeking community support and fostering accountability transformed his business and team culture, making them a leading EV charging station installer in the U.S.
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Sudden Leadership After Personal Loss
- Stephen Osborne was named president alongside his father, then lost him suddenly in 2021 and felt thrown into leadership without a safety net.
- He describes deep grief and the shock of suddenly having full responsibility for a decades-old company.
Family Infighting Damaged Company Culture
- Family members pushed to take ownership roles without committing full-time, creating infighting and hurt feelings.
- That conflict accelerated cultural breakdown and staff uncertainty across the company.
Unexpected Removal Exposed Fragility
- Without Stephen's knowledge, family-hired consultants advised removing him and he was removed from his role, initially for 48 hours then for three months.
- That forced him to see the company's inability to operate without him and exposed leadership gaps.
