Elevate Construction

In this episode, Jason Schroeder tackles the vital topic of building trust on construction teams. He shares insights from his personal experience and Brene Brown's work on vulnerability, emphasizing the importance of transparency, integrity, and vulnerability in creating a high-performing team. If you're looking to build a stronger, more cohesive team where trust is the foundation, this episode wi...

In this episode, Jason kicks off a new series on teaming and organizational health by explaining why balanced, healthy teams are the biggest competitive advantage in construction. He introduces the difference between multipliers and diminishers, why every team needs a clear performance goal, and why healthy conflict and real accountability are non-negotiable if you want a team to reach high perfor...

In this episode, Jason breaks down the hidden behaviors that quietly block leaders from taking their next step and shows how to identify and eliminate them. You will learn the 16 most common leadership blocks that show up on real projects, from wanting to be liked to indecisiveness, perfectionism, and playing savior with others. This matters because these patterns don't just hurt project performan...

This episode explores one of the most powerful leadership concepts in construction: burning your ships. Jason breaks down why project teams fall into the trap of pushing problems to the end, and how leaders can eliminate that escape route by creating clear milestones, urgency, and absolute commitment to the plan. Through compelling stories and practical examples, he shows how teams win when there...

This episode digs into one of the most powerful levers a superintendent has: the daily and weekly huddle system that aligns foremen, workers, and the project. Jason breaks down how afternoon foreman huddles, worker huddles, and a weekly planning rhythm transform chaos into clarity on any job site. Through real project examples and hard-earned lessons, he shows why scaling communication from the ma...

This episode goes straight to the heart of project leadership by revealing the early warning signs that a construction job is heading into trouble. Jason shares a powerful list developed by seasoned general superintendents and explains how issues like uncleanliness, disorganization, team dysfunction, and failing systems are not root causes but symptoms pointing to deeper problems. Through real sto...

This episode brings a fresh and heartfelt look at Who Moved My Cheese? and why its lessons hit especially hard for builders navigating constant industry change. Jason and guest Jake Williams unpack the book's characters, the illusion of stability, and the fears that silently hold people back in their careers and personal growth. Through candid stories and real-world perspective, they show how embr...

This episode tackles one of the most common struggles in construction leadership: feeling trapped by other people's chaos. Jason shares a powerful real-world story that reveals how even one small decision—like canceling a morning huddle—can disrupt stability for an entire workforce. Through vivid examples and practical insights, he shows why leaders must hold their ground, protect their systems, a...

This episode dives into the heart of change in construction, using the classic tale Who Moved My Cheese? as a Launchpad to explore how our industry's "cheese" has been moved and why the Toyota Way offers a roadmap for finding it again. Jason breaks down the 14 Principles of the Toyota Way and shows how each one can transform field leadership, team culture, stability, and flow on construction proje...

In this personal episode of the Elevate Construction Podcast, Jason Schroeder opens up about his journey in construction and the lessons he's learned along the way. From a young age, he learned the importance of building trust through rapport and the deep impact that caring for others can have on both personal and professional growth. Jason shares the hardships, triumphs, and pivotal moments that...

In this episode, Jason Schroeder sits down with Dr. Stephen Grennan and Amanda Hill from BioHealth Management to explore a better way to care for the bodies that power our industry. They discuss how preventative orthopedic care can reduce injuries, ease chronic pain, and give construction workers confidence that their careers are sustainable long term. Through real jobsite examples, you'll hear ho...

In this episode, Jason Schroeder explores a powerful and often overlooked truth in construction leadership: the building will talk to you if you slow down enough to listen. Through real stories from the field, he shares how intuition, presence, and quiet observation have helped prevent incidents, uncover hidden risks, and guide better decisions. This is not about superstition or mysticism, but abo...

In this final episode of the Lean experiment series, Jason Schroeder and Jake Smalley unpack the "secret sauce" behind repeatable success on a jobsite. They reflect on how culture, transparency, humanity, and unwavering standards created a team environment where people felt heard, protected, and motivated to win together. From listening deeply to owners and craft workers to building trust, setting...

In this episode, Jason Schroeder and Jake Smalley reflect on a real Lean experiment and unpack what truly kept the project stable when pressure, change, and chaos hit. Through vivid stories and practical examples, they explore how balance, foresight, and clarity allowed the team to stay focused, protect flow, and avoid spiraling into reaction mode. From holding the line during disruptions to overc...

This episode dives into one of the most overlooked but powerful drivers of project success: cleanliness and organization. Jason, Jake, and Jake break down why a clean site is far more than aesthetics, it's the foundation for safety, quality, sequencing, morale, and predictable schedule flow. Through stories from the field, they show how enforcing high standards, building culture early, and leading...

This episode dives into one of the hardest parts of any Lean implementation: sustaining the culture long after the initial excitement fades. Jason, Jake, and Jake break down the systems, habits, and daily practices that kept their project aligned, disciplined, and performing at a high level. From grading trade partners to reinforcing expectations through consistent communication, they reveal how c...

This episode dives into the heart of one of construction's toughest challenges: winning over the workforce through genuine respect for people. Jason, Jake, and Jake share how simple human connection, consistent standards, recognition, and open communication can transform a jobsite into a place people want to work. Through real stories from the field, they reveal what actually inspires crews, build...

This episode takes you inside one of the most revealing experiments in Lean construction as Jason and Jake break down what it really takes to build a Lean culture through contracts, expectations, and upfront alignment. They share how the team set the conditions for Lean success long before stepping onto the job site, and how clear standards, stable systems, and intentional communication transforme...

In this episode of the Elevate Construction Podcast, Jake Smaley and Jason Schroeder discuss the critical balance between incentives and survival on the job site. They explore how raising expectations without holding everyone accountable leads to mediocrity, and the importance of maintaining a zero-tolerance policy for safety and quality. The conversation emphasizes the value of equality, respect,...

In this episode of the Elevate Construction Podcast, Jake Smaley and Jason Schroeder dive into the art of attack, using lessons learned from their Lean implementation project. They discuss the importance of pre-planning, staying nimble, and strategically attacking challenges on the job site to create a positive, productive environment. The episode highlights the power of planning, preparation, and...

In this episode of the Elevate Construction Podcast, Jason Schroeder and Jake Smaley dive into their experience with Lean implementation on a $100 million project, sharing lessons learned from both successes and failures. They explore how they transformed a disorganized and demoralizing job site into a clean, safe, and efficient space by winning over the workforce, improving site conditions, and f...

This episode breaks down one of the biggest challenges in construction leadership: how to sustain a high-performing culture in an environment that naturally slides toward disorder. Jason explains why standards fade, why teams struggle to maintain excellence, and what leaders must do daily to outpace the entropy of a job site. Through practical examples, proven systems, and hard-won lessons, he sho...

This episode explores the true power of moments and why creating meaningful experiences with our families is just as important as succeeding at work. Jason shares personal lessons, honest reflections, and practical habits to help construction professionals balance demanding careers with strong family relationships. Through stories, principles, and a moving poem, this episode challenges listeners t...

Recovering a project isn't about panic, pressure, or throwing bodies at the problem, it's about discipline, clarity, and controlled leadership. In this episode, Jason breaks down exactly how to stabilize a troubled project, reestablish flow, and prevent a crash landing at the finish line. Through real-world analogies and hard-earned lessons, he explains why calm, structured control outperforms cha...

Dale Carnegie's How to Win Friends and Influence People is one of the most transformative books ever written, and in this episode, Jason breaks down why its principles are still life-changing today. He shares personal stories of how the book reshaped his effectiveness at work, improved relationships, and unlocked a new level of emotional intelligence. Jason also explains how these concepts solve r...