Elevate Construction

In this podcast we cover:   How to look at sequencing. How to visualize when timelines need to start. What if planning construction projects was as simple as catching a flight? In this episode, I share a powerful concept I learned from David Umstott called airport thinking. It is a mindset shift that takes the stress out of project deadlines by teaching you to work backwards with built-in buffers....

In this podcast we cover: Why it will take all of us speaking up to fix this. This episode is a call to action that you cannot ignore. I share real feedback from a listener who transformed their growth through learning, mentoring, and lean practices. We then confront an uncomfortable truth about silence in the face of abuse both in construction and in society. From the struggles of women worldwide...

In this podcast we cover: How not to merge CPM and Last Planner. How you should flow the deliverables. This episode tackles one of the most damaging mistakes teams make with the Last Planner System. Too many companies try to blend CPM and Last Planner in a way that destroys flow and leaves projects stuck in the same broken patterns. I share exactly what happens when weekly work plans are filtered...

In this podcast we cover: What a construction apologist is. Why it is not the time to be an apologist for classical management systems. In this episode, I dive into the idea of construction apologetics and why we must stop blindly defending outdated systems that hurt our industry. I share personal experiences, stories from the field, and even reflections from apologetics in religion to illustrate...

In this podcast we cover: Why we can't just design what people want. How we can also design what people need. In this episode, I share my perspective on why simply building what people say they want often misses the mark. Drawing from construction scheduling, Scrum, and Lean Startup, I explore the risks of defaulting to familiar solutions and explain why true progress requires a deeper look at nee...

In this podcast we cover: The framework. What blaming people does. Why we should criticize systems. In this episode, I share why I always separate people from the systems they work in. I explain the dangers of blaming individuals for failures that come from broken processes and highlight the importance of protecting dignity, telling the truth, and investing in those closest to the work. My message...

In this podcast we cover: Why CPM is failed. My responses to listeners. One really immature response from me. In this episode, I talk about the balance between designing what people want and delivering what they actually need. Too often in construction and software development, we end up building faster versions of broken systems simply because that is what people request. I share why listening to...

In this podcast we cover: How to integrate on projects. Why some people should think you are a threat. In this episode, I sit down with Kevin Rice and Kate Schroeder to explore what it really means to be an effective integrator on a project site. We talk about why respect is more than being agreeable and how avoiding hard conversations can actually harm the team. Kevin explains why a good integrat...

In this podcast we cover: Why it is important to use drafts. Why starting with a bad plan is good. In this episode, I talk about why a bad plan is often the best starting point for creating a great one. Through stories from my own work and a few analogies, I explain how the power of feedback and iteration turns flawed first drafts into strong, effective strategies. If you have ever hesitated to st...

In this podcast we cover: When a lack of urgency hurts you. How you can act with urgency. What urgency is. In this episode, I share why urgency is the missing ingredient on so many projects. I talk about real examples where a lack of urgency caused massive delays in preconstruction, commissioning, and trade partner planning, and how acting early made all the difference. I explain why problems like...

In this podcast we cover: The worry that workers hide in nice bathrooms. Why it is not a real concern. A challenge for bathrooms on site. In this episode, I share why providing workers with great bathrooms is one of the most overlooked ways to build respect on a project. I talk about my own experiences creating permanent and trailer-based bathrooms on jobsites, the appreciation from workers, and t...

In this podcast we cover: The origin of the term. What it means. Why it happens. Why it's bad for everyone. In this episode, I dive into the concept of sandbagging, where it comes from, and why it shows up so often in construction projects. I share the origins of the term, explain how it plays out on jobsites, and explore the real costs it creates for both general contractors and trade partners. F...

In this podcast we cover: A question given to me. How someone can do hard things. Why everyone needs a mentor and companion. In this blog I share a concept that I call the power of mentors and companions. Through personal stories from my own life, asking my wife to marry me, starting a business, having difficult conversations, and stepping into public speaking, I explain how the blend of mentorshi...

In this podcast we cover: If implementing lean halfway through is possible. In this episode, I talk about the myth that lean only works if you start from day one. I share stories from my own experience where we implemented lean halfway through projects and still saw remarkable results. From better communication to improved flow and even early finishes, I explain why waiting is the real danger. If...

In this podcast we cover: The differences between the two styles. Why Parrot managers are dangerous. Why the octopus and thinking for yourself is superior. In this episode, I share a powerful analogy between parrots and octopi to highlight two types of behaviors in the construction industry. Parrots mimic what they hear, repeating buzzwords like critical path and quality, cost, and schedule withou...

In this podcast we cover: A question from a listener. What to do about cultural misfits. In this episode I share updates on our new TACT steering and control book, reflect on feedback from a listener, and tackle a powerful question about leadership. I discuss why we must shift from the word Foreman to crew leader, the importance of creating inclusive environments for women, and how to confront poo...

In this podcast we cover: Megan's Services. How men and women communicate differently. How we can connect. In this episode, I respond to a listener's question about how to handle underperforming crew members without being negative. I share practical strategies for communicating with both the crew and foreman in a way that stays professional and focused on culture. I also emphasize the importance o...

In this podcast we cover: Systems that create abuse. Why we always blame the abuser. In this episode of the Elevate Construction Podcast, I take on a tough but important question: Did lean management fail? My answer is no. Lean practices such as Last Planner, Takt, and Scrum have proven themselves time and again to create predictable systems, reduce waste, and empower people. The problem is not wi...

In this podcast we cover: The normal pull planning process. How to dig deeper of the durations are not accurate. In this episode, I share my insights on advanced pull planning and why the traditional approach often falls short. I explain how relying only on average durations can create sandbagged schedules and destroy zone control. I talk about asking trade partners for their fastest, average, and...

In this podcast we cover: How the project is run. Suggestions given after the walk. In this episode, I share insights from a lean project walk I recently did in Virginia on a hospital tower project. I talk about what the team is doing exceptionally well with takt planning, Last Planner, and visual scheduling, while also highlighting areas where they can push even further with afternoon huddles, in...

In this podcast we cover: A question from a listener. What to do if you don't have the labor to accomplish the work. In this episode, I respond to a listener's question about a project stuck because mechanical crews cannot provide the manpower they promised. I break down why this is not simply a trade partner problem but a system constraint driven by labor rules and regional realities. I share my...

In this podcast we cover: How companies abuse you. Why you must hold to the pattern. What to do if your company will not do the right thing. In this episode, I share a powerful lesson from boot camp about what to do when your company refuses to plan projects properly. Too often, superintendents are sent to rescue failing jobs without the resources or systems needed to succeed. I explain why recove...

In this podcast we cover: Why making work ready is so important. The 17 items that must be in place for an item to be ready. In this episode, I share what it really means to say a crew is ready for an activity. Too often, we move ahead before all the pieces are in place, which creates roadblocks, rework, and frustration. I break down the 17 components of true readiness, from conditions of satisfac...

In this podcast we cover: Questions from listeners. How to scale Takt in a small company. The difference between contingency and buffers. In this episode I take on listener questions that highlight two important challenges in construction. The first is how to scale lean systems like TPS for smaller companies that may feel these tools are built only for larger operations. I share practical steps an...

In this podcast we cover: Analogies of what CPM is like. Why CPM has become a cult. In this episode, I take a deep dive into why CPM has become such a destructive and outdated system in construction. Through practical analogies, I explain how CPM distracts us with irrelevant metrics while takt focuses on flow and results. I also explore how the culture around CPM functions like a cult, shielding p...