Construction Industry Insights
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Everyone Makes Mistakes
Take ownership of failure in your own mind but fail to do so publicly. Bosses often get away with pretending a failure never happened and emitting nonverbal signals that a topic is off limits...
Financial Transparency is Vital
... many construction firm owners are reluctant to be fully trusting and transparent with their workforce—particularly when it comes to finances.
PMs, Estimators, and Scaling Your Construction Business
As small contractors grow into mid-sized ones, to me this is the most important time to create at least some dedicated estimating staff.... you must either have estimators who enjoy developing relationships...
Never Bid to Strangers
The best thing to do when you get invited to bid a project by someone you don’t know is simple. Get to know them.
Every Project Team Has A Culture
When starting a new project with an unfamiliar team, fully integrate yourself into the team, establish shared goals, clear communication, and agreed-upon guidelines to quickly build trust and foster a positive team culture...
Say No First and See How it Goes
“You’re not low” is such an easy thing to say, and the rewards are tangible. Thousands, even millions of dollars of value in negotiations are secured by savvy construction buyers every day with this one tactic.
Building a Better Construction Business
Companies prioritizing employee satisfaction see a ripple effect: happy workers lead to satisfied clients…
The Best Ask for Help
Getting help should not be an option. Great teams win together. We love our top performers, and there’s nothing that will stop them from pursuing a higher level of performance from themselves…
How to Love the Deal You Cut
What these contractors must realize, however, is that the resentment they feel toward their customers is not helping them to prosper. Instead, the sour feelings they carry into the project translate into…
Strategic Planning: 3 Phases of Construction Business Success.
…setting clear goals and gaining an objective view of your business’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats can help you protect and grow your business despite inevitable challenges.
Contractor Strategies for Thriving in High-Interest Environments
I’ve found that firms that follow four simple rules can capitalize on the ever-changing business environment rather than being victimized by it…
Well Built: How the Top 2% of Construction Contractors Create Superior Value, Profits, and Excellence
Read the first chapter of my new book, Well Built!
You’re Either Growing or Dying
From my experience, the risks and discomfort of maintaining the status quo often outweigh those of pursuing positive change. Moreover, choosing not to improve can erode the sense of accomplishment and pride…
Engaging the Workforce
When your business embodies your values, your culture will drive project success and cultivate a sense of purpose, achievement, and growth among your employees…
Designing Your Business the Way You Would a Building
Just as no building can stand without a solid foundation, nothing you do as a construction company matters as much as your ability to produce a project…
Strengths and Weaknesses - Setting the Debate
Even a master relationship builder cannot effectively mask his inability to understand critical business metrics and use them to manage projects. This weakness is not something that can be shrugged off…
How to Win Without Being the Low Bidder
If you’re a GC/CM, navigating the owner’s decision-making team can range in complexity. Question and discern the data you gather to identify all of the players and their various roles…
The Right Chief Executive at the Right Time
My experience tells me a company can thrive regardless of the skills that the Chief Executive brings to the table…
Learn to See it Coming
You cannot stop a storm from coming. Business, like nature, can be an unstoppable force, bringing conditions you must learn to adapt to and live with. Economic conditions, new technologies, workforce shortages, and more are realities you must adjust to and accept…
Are You Accepting Incompetence?
Break the cycle of incompetence in your company by implementing rigorous hiring practices and addressing deficiencies immediately. It's time to stop accepting mediocrity and invest in a competent, skilled workforce…