EDITOR'S NOTE
Since grade school, we were all taught a few basic skills to make ourselves appear more professional — a firm handshake, sincere smile, and confident stance, just to name a few. Along the way, we’ve learned that showing up on time and demonstrating a genuine in- terest wins us the job, the client, or the bid. It all seems pretty straight-forward. But as any supervisor will tell you, common sense isn’t quite so common these days. Making Common Sense More Common
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On the cover: A PHC technician utilizes the Q-Connect tree injection system to deliver treatment to the tree. Source: Rainbow Ecoscience
ISSUE 15, SPRING 2026
Amy Kent, Editor
I’ve recently taken to listening to a variety of arborist podcasts while I’m answering emails or cleaning the chicken coop. One of them recently men- tioned that how professionalism doesn’t always look the same across the whole crew. Things like keeping the truck clean or tucking away the personal phone may be obvi- ous tasks for some employees but very well could be lost on others.
PUBLISHER Sachin Mohan: mohan@arbortimes.org EDITOR Amy Kent: editor@arbortimes.org ASSOCIATE EDITOR Mara Watts: mara@arbortimes.org ART/TECH DIRECTOR Richard May: info@arbortimes.org STAFF ARBORIST Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP: tandersen@arbortimes.org SAFETY AND TRAINING ADVISORS Jared Abrojena Bob Lehman Korey Conry Aaron Dickinson Robert Phillips SENIOR ADVISORS Dane Buell Mark Garvin PRODUCED BY EDGE AHEAD ASSOCIATES For editorial and advertising inquiries: 1 Store Hill Rd, PO BOX # 334 Old Westbury, NY 11568 Tel. (516) 399-2627 Email: mohan@arbortimes.org Web: arbortimes.org No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent of the publisher. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions that may occur. All uncredited photography is either supplied or sourced from a stock image bank or is public domain.
At its core, “common sense” professionalism speaks to how we show up to a site — bright-eyed, bushy- tailed, and ready to get the work done. If the job is complete, should the optics truly matter? To the tree, a few wrappers on the dashboard of a company vehicle won’t affect how well you prune or the type of treatment you choose. To the customer, howev- er, that can be the difference between booking with your company again or searching elsewhere for someone with a cleaner appeal.
It’s worth mentioning that newer generations entering the workforce may not have the same face-to-face exposure that more experienced workers had when getting their feet wet. Much of the client relations side of business can be done behind a desk, and while that means better efficiency, it also means less personalization and connection to the job and the client. These kind of changes to the industry and workforce in general may contribute to the difference in “common sense skills.” Most 18 to 20-some-year-olds can probably whip up an Excel spreadsheet or set up a Teams meeting without much thought — a task not always painless for folks from the time of pagers and PDAs. This isn’t to say common sense is a lost art. Rather, it needs to evolve with the rest of the changes we observe as new technology, challenges, and markets arise. That begins with learning what comes naturally to all members of your crew. Explain the “why” so that it connects and resonates with them. As the busy season continues to gain traction, it’s easy for small mistakes to com- pound. One of the best ways to avoid them is to prevent them with a bit of understand- ing. Whether it’s turning chainsaws on their sides, or greeting the customer before starting on the canopy, make sure the common sense makes sense to everyone.
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Stay grounded, Amy Kent
ArborTIMES ™ Spring 2026 | 3
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