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Monthly Briefing

Profits | Relationships | Knowledge

November 2025 Volume XV, Issue 11

5 Ways to Align Goals and Improve Performance

By Emma Wildermuth, MBA

President, Shinn Group

The most successful builders in today’s market know that alignment is everything. They build a culture where everyone’s goals connect to the company’s bigger vision and improving how things get done is part of the daily routine.

The management principle known as Management by Objective (MBO) offers a practical framework for achieving this alignment. When combined with process improvement strategies, MBO helps builders turn strategic goals into measurable actions across every department, from estimating and purchasing to construction and customer service.

Here are five strategies managers can use to align individual and organizational performance while continuously improving business operations.

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Outdoor Living Trends – Pain Points Eliminated

The need for differentiation for homebuilders to compete in this ever-increasing competitive landscape has never been more clear. Allowing buydowns to be the only differentiator from another homebuilder does not have to be the solution.

The timing of the 3 vertices of technology, consumer trends and homebuilder differentiation makes this the ideal time for homebuilders to tackle their fears of providing the center point of outdoor living – the Swimming Pool!

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Builder Spotlight: Raymus Homes

Raymus Homes Celebrates 80 Years of Building Homes & Community

For eight decades, Raymus Homes has embodied the vision of its founder, Antone Raymus, who believed that building homes meant building futures. From the beginning, Antone saw a home as the heart of a community, and he lived that philosophy by investing deeply in Manteca. Beyond developing neighborhoods, he co-founded Give Every Child a Chance and HOPE Family Shelters to support the town he loved.

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Why Every Homebuilder Needs an AI Strategy in 2026 and Where to Start

The homebuilding market is shifting fast. With labor shortages, rising material costs, and buyers who expect instant answers and seamless experiences, builders are being asked to do more with less. The good news? The same technology that’s reshaping other industries can help you work smarter, save time, and strengthen your relationships with buyers and partners.

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Builder of Choice™ Insights Podcast: Tune In & Level Up

Power up your business with proven strategies from industry leaders. Your next business breakthrough starts with our latest episodes:

Building a Builder of Choice™ Culture with Paul Winegar of Willow Branch Homes: Breaking Down Silos

Women Building America: Empowering the Next Generation of Industry Leaders with Kelly Zitlow and Lisa Cortez from Cornerstone Home Lending

Consultant's Corner

Common Purchasing and Production Headaches and How to Fix Them

By Ed Hauck
Senior Consultant, Shinn Group

Home builders are constantly juggling budgets, schedules, and customer expectations, and many of the biggest headaches show up in both purchasing and production. From rising material costs to labor shortages and technology gaps, these challenges can slow projects and eat into profits. The good news is that most of these problems have practical solutions once you know where to look.