Elevate Construction

In this podcast we cover: What weaponized incompetence is. How you can spot it. What to do about it. In this episode, I explore the concept of weaponized incompetence and its impact on the construction industry. I share how this behavior shows up when people pretend they cannot perform basic tasks like scheduling, using a computer, or leading a meeting, all as a way of avoiding responsibility. I c...

In this podcast we cover: How command and control was on the trades. How LPS done wrong is on the trades. How to make it a team effort. In this episode, I explore the idea that in construction it has always been the trades carrying the burden, whether under the weight of command and control or through misguided applications of the Last Planner System. I explain how simply shifting the work of plan...

In this podcast we cover: What kinds of insurance are required in construction. What each one covers. How to make sure you are covered. In this episode I sat down with Rocio Luna, a commercial insurance broker and consultant who has spent nearly a decade helping construction companies navigate coverage, claims, and risk management. We talked about the essentials of insurance in construction, from...

In this podcast we cover: How Supers get distracted. How to prevent this and hold to what is important. In this episode I responded to feedback from a listener who asked about managing time and setting boundaries as a superintendent. I shared the structure of an ideal day, starting with a strong morning routine and flowing into effective worker and foreman huddles, zone control walks, and dedicate...

In this podcast we cover: Why implementing fast is key. How you can approach lean rollouts. Why going slow is dissension. In this episode I share why implementing fast is not just a preference but a necessity for meaningful change. Too often organizations fall into the trap of rolling out lean practices one tiny piece at a time, which only creates sub optimization and drains resources. I explain w...

In this podcast we cover: How sometimes people get stuck or procrastinate. What you can do about it. How it helps all around. In this episode, I dive into a habit that quietly undermines productivity and trust: the tendency to say "I'm almost there" instead of showing actual progress. I share how this behavior often masks procrastination or lack of organization and why it is so damaging to teams....

In this podcast we cover: How to approach civil work. The steps to schedule Civil work in Takt. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode.  And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊).   Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels: · Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel:...

In this podcast we cover: Why hearing everyone on a job site matters. How to create connection and unity. In this episode, I sat down with Jennifer Lacy to talk about the importance of hearing people's voices on the project site. We explored how real leadership goes beyond lean tools and processes and how it is the human connection that truly drives performance. We shared stories about creating sa...

In this podcast we cover: Delighting the community and end users. And approach to hospitality. Connecting beyond the job site. In this episode, I walk through my process for scheduling civil projects using takt planning. I share how I break work into phases, areas, and stations while considering factors such as soil conditions, depth of pipe, and complexity. I explain how to calculate production r...

In this podcast we cover: How to create real connection on a job site. A story about someone that needed help.   Methods of connection. In this episode, I share a moving story from Roanoke, Virginia, where senior superintendent Josh Young shows how compassion and connection can transform lives on a construction site. You'll hear how he supported an employee through one of the hardest times in his...

In this podcast we cover: How to merge the genius of the field and academia. What we can do to network together and elevate together. In this episode, I share my approach to scheduling civil projects using takt planning. I explain how I break down projects into zones and stationing, calculate durations from production rates, and sequence crews to create reliable flow. I also cover how to add buffe...

In this podcast we cover: A question from a listener. What KPIs are recommended. In this episode, I take a deep dive into a listener's question about standing up a project controls department and choosing the right KPIs. I walk through why project controls matter, the difference between leading and lagging indicators, and specific KPI examples that actually drive meaningful behaviors in quality, s...

In this podcast we cover: A question from a listener. How to get leaders to plan. What it means when they don't. How tools them accountable. In this episode, I tackle a question every construction leader faces: how do we get superintendents and PMs to plan in preconstruction? I share why planning is the core responsibility of a builder, what effective preconstruction planning actually looks like,...

In this podcast we cover: Answers to listener comments. What the Last Planner System is. Why we need a First Planner System. In this episode, I share why the last planner system cannot succeed without the first planner system. I explain how planning in preconstruction provides the logistical support, supply chain readiness, and production design that allows field teams to make reliable commitments...

In this podcast we cover: An answer to a listener about meetings. What humans do when they get behind. What we can do to stay stable and get ahead. In this episode I share what typically happens when we feel like we are getting behind and why our natural instincts often cause more harm than good. I explain how rushing, panicking, and adding pressure can create chaos, while slowing down, planning c...

In this podcast we cover:  Short impactful thoughts from teaming to hiring a consultant. In this episode I share the lessons that have shaped how I view construction projects and leadership. I talk about why having one integrated timeline matters more than maintaining multiple disconnected schedules. I explain how weekly work plans can either become empty paperwork or powerful tools depending on h...

In this podcast we cover: How pre-staging ties into JIT. How to make it work if you do. The approach you take to phase through a building twice. In this episode I respond to two thoughtful comments from listeners that highlight important lessons in construction. One listener shared his perspective on the three enablers for execution, emphasizing the role of data, tools, and physical area in making...

In this podcast we cover: Why we get to do hard things. How we expect things from Trades we don't do ourselves. What to do instead. In this episode I share a powerful mindset shift about excuses in construction. Too often I hear people say something is "too hard" as a reason to avoid learning, adapting, or improving. But every day we ask our trade partners to do difficult and complex things on the...

Millennials & Gen Z Are we facing a "work ethic crisis" in today's younger generations or is that just another recycled excuse? In this raw and unfiltered episode, we cut through the noise and dive into what really matters, entitlement, job hopping, technology dependence, short attention spans, and the danger of chasing comfort before putting in the grind. You'll hear: ✅ The real truth about whet...

Why Projects Fail Without Buffers (And What Mine craft Taught Me About Flow) In this episode, I share a breakthrough analogy (yes, it comes from playing Mine craft with my kids!) that finally makes the power of buffers crystal clear. Whether in project schedules, takt wagons, or your daily workflow buffers are the hidden key to preventing chaos, absorbing variation, and keeping everything moving s...

Turning Construction Chaos Into Clarity What if every worker on your jobsite could instantly see the right information the moment they stepped off the hoist? That's exactly what today's episode is about. I'm joined by Jeff Laporte of Robins & Morton, who shares how his team is transforming communication on the Boca Regional Hospital project through visual environments and floor information boards....

Are You Wasting Time With Outdated Pull Planning? Too many construction teams are stuck transferring sticky notes into Excel, duplicating work, and misaligning schedules with reality. In this episode, I respond directly to a listener's question about how Last Planner® is being used in the field vs. how it should be used. We dig into: ✅ Why sticky notes and physical boards aren't a "Lean requireme...

The Game Changer for Complex Projects Ever had a project where every zone feels completely different complex layouts, endless variations, and buffers constantly getting eaten up? In this episode, Jason Schroeder introduces a breakthrough idea: Trade-Specific (or "Diagonal") Pull Plans. Instead of running sequences left to right across trades, Jason explains how to trace the flow of one trade acros...

Are you building processes from scratch or reinventing the wheel? In this episode, Jason Schroeder sits down with Superintendent Jesse Powell to dive into one of the biggest challenges in construction today "developing standards, forms, and processes that actually work". Jesse brings 18 years of experience in the field, moving from carpenter to superintendent on $200M projects, and now helping his...

What It Really Means to Be a Great Host on the Jobsite What if your construction site felt less like a grind… and more like a five-star experience? In this episode, Jason unpacks lessons from Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara and shows how superintendents can become true "hosts" for their trade partners. From free popsicles and surprise breakfasts to personalized touches that show genuine c...