Elevate Construction

Every project team has a limit and if you don't know your capacity to sustain change, you'll break the team and the project will suffer. In this episode, Jason explains the Lean concept of muri (overburden) and why it's absurd to keep stacking change orders, RFIs, and chaos on people without adjusting resources or priorities. You'll hear a real project story about stopping design by a hard deadline to regain capacity, plus practical signs your team is overburdened and what to do about it. This is about protecting flow, protecting families, and running a remarkable project by focusing on team balance first.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• What "capacity to sustain" means and how overburden (muri) quietly kills projects
• Why you must watch muri, mura, and muda together not just waste
• How design churn, RFIs, change orders, and babysitting failing contractors consume capacity
• Why 5S/3S helps you see problems so you can fix root causes not just "clean more"
• How to do first things first, set priorities, and adjust the right "dials" instead of overburdening people

What would change if you treated overburden like an emergency and protected your team's capacity before anything else?

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: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg · LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt · LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnswSample

Expectations don't work when they're only aimed outward if you don't model discipline, organization, safety, and standards, you can't demand them from anyone else. In this episode, Jason shares a powerful reset: respect equals high expectations, and the best way to lift people is with your example and sincere gratitude not frustrated yelling or emotional outbursts. He explains how superintendents can stay authoritative under pressure by blaming the process first, separating the standard from the person, and leading with consequences instead of anger. If you've ever lost your temper in a sub meeting and regretted it afterward, this gives you a better way.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why respect equals high expectations and why leaders must model what they demand
• How to separate the process and standard from the person ("blame the process, not the person")
• How to lead with consequences and circumstance changes instead of anger, cussing, or threats
• Why superintendents get trapped by certainty/significance and how to refocus on growth and contribution
• A practical method to stay calm, stay objective, and avoid getting yourself in trouble on the job

Next time someone disappoints you, will you choose frustrated expectations or will you model the standard, appreciate their best, and do the right thing?

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: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg · LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt · LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnswSample

Do you hold yourself back because you need to be liked or because you're afraid of the critic? In this episode, Jason unpacks the "courage to be disliked" and why it's a critical leadership skill in construction and in life. He shares a personal story about being a director on a project where the team didn't want his influence, and how learning to separate "my task" from "their task" helped him stop tying his self-worth to other people's opinions. You'll also get practical tools from The Courage to Be Disliked, Adlerian psychology, and Jason's real-world coaching experience to help you break free from approval-seeking and lead with confidence.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why "it is not the critic who counts" and how to keep daring greatly when you're in the arena
• How approval-seeking creates blocks to leadership (fear of embarrassment, rejection, perfectionism, low self-worth)
• The concept of "separation of tasks": what you control vs. what belongs to other people
• Why anger and yelling are often attempts to control and how to stop manipulating or being manipulated
• How to shift from certainty/significance to growth/contribution so you can be happier and more effective

If you stopped needing approval today, what hard decision would you finally make and what would your leadership look like?

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: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg · LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt · LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnswSample

Field engineers don't get paid to wait, they get paid to figure things out. In this episode, Jason explains the "honey badger" mindset: stop being a victim, go get the information, solve the problem, and stabilize the environment so the craft can flow. He shares the real origin of field engineer boot camps, why "explain and demonstrate" isn't enough, and how struggle is part of earning the skills that actually stick. If you want to level up fast in construction, this is the mentality shift that changes everything.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why the #1 job of a field engineer is to "figure things out" and enable the craft
• The "honey badger" mindset: stop being a victim and go get what the project needs
• How boot camps evolved from low-retention online training to field-based learning that sticks
• The Explain–Demonstrate–Guide–Enable method and why the "guide" portion forces real retention
• Why field engineers absorb chaos to create stability and flow for workers

Are you waiting to be shown or are you ready to go figure it out and be the badger?

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: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg · LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt · LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnswSample

Foremen don't fail because they don't care, they fail because they're promoted into leadership with almost no training. In this Saturday short episode, Jason shares a story of a foreman who elevated the whole crew by teaching best practices every day, and he challenges you to respect yourself enough to go get your own personal development. You'll hear why investing in your mind is the best investment you can make, and how five minutes a day can change your career, your crew, and your life.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why most foremen are thrown into leadership with very little training and what to do about it
• How a simple daily five-minute training habit forces you to grow so you can teach others
• The difference between "I don't need it" and "Do I want better results, less stress, and a stronger crew?"
• Practical ways to start: books, courses, daily micro-training, and finding your first development investment
• Why "how you do one thing is how you do everything" and how beliefs show up in actions on the job

What would change if you invested in your mind every day and made training your crew non-negotiable?

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: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg · LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt · LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnswSample

Negotiation isn't a "PM skill" or a dirty word it's a leadership tool that helps you get win-win outcomes with owners, trade partners, and even at home. In this episode, Jason breaks down why emotion not logic decides whether negotiations succeed, and why the goal is never manipulation, lying, or deceit. He introduces Chris Voss's Never Split the Difference and shares practical techniques you can use immediately to build trust, reduce conflict, and negotiate ethically for fair outcomes on your projects.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why emotion (not logic) drives negotiation outcomes—and how to show up the right way
• Four game-changing techniques: mirroring, accusation audits, getting them to say "no," and calibrated questions
• How to use the Black Swan "Negotiation One Sheet" to prepare facts, build rapport, and create win-win outcomes
• Why negotiation is about trust, transparency, and helping the other party see the full story
• A real-world example of negotiating fairly for change orders and training using these methods

Are you avoiding negotiation or are you willing to learn the skill that could change your results, your relationships, and your career?

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: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg · LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt · LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnswSample

Going from good to great isn't a small step, it's a massive leap, and most teams never even try. In this episode, Jason explains why "good" becomes a trap that creates comfort, complacency, and stagnation, and why real greatness requires fanaticism, discipline, and a relentless commitment to improvement. You'll learn the leadership levels from Good to Great, what a Level 4 leader actually does to elevate a project team, and why "who first, then what" is the starting point for any breakthrough. If your team is "doing fine," this episode will challenge you to raise the standard and go for Olympic-level excellence.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why "good is the enemy of great" and how comfort creates stagnation on project teams
• The five levels of leadership and what it takes to become the kind of leader who elevates performance
• Why you must get the right people on the bus (and in the right seats) before chasing new goals
• How clear vision + higher standards move a team from "good enough" to excellence
• Why discipline, training, and continuous improvement prepare teams for bigger, harder, more complex projects

If your team is already "good," what would it take to refuse comfort and pursue greatness anyway?

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: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg · LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt · LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnswSample

Building information modeling only works when it's treated like a production system, not a "nice-to-have" add-on that people can opt out of. In this episode, Jason and Greg Lowe (Director of Integrated Construction Technologies / VDC / BIM at Oakland Construction) answer listener questions about getting trade buy-in, when to start BIM meetings on hard-bid vs. design-build, how to run the kickoff meeting, and what to do when an engineer refuses to model and says "figure it out in the field." You'll learn why the BIM execution plan is everything, why timing is critical, and how confident GC leadership sets the standard so the whole team can win.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• How to get trade partner buy-in early (and handle BIM as an alternate without killing the job)
• When to start BIM coordination on hard-bid jobs vs. design-build—and why hard-bid starts "already late"
• What to cover in the first BIM kickoff meeting (execution plan, roles, LOD, naming, clash process, communication rhythm)
• How often to meet (daily vs. weekly) and why "wait until the next meeting" breaks coordination
• What to do when engineers refuse 3D/constructability and push problems to the field how owners, specs, and leadership drive the change

Are you treating BIM like optional overhead or like the system that makes prefabrication, flow, and project success possible?

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: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg · LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt · LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnswSample

Asking for help isn't a weakness, it's the leadership move that keeps you from learning everything the hard way. In this episode, Jason breaks the "lone wolf" myth and explains why superintendents win when they network, tour other projects, and steal great ideas shamelessly. You'll hear a powerful story about learning basement logistics from another team and how that wisdom turned into day-by-day geographic planning and an on-time finish. If you want to level up faster and avoid training yourself through sad experiences, this one is for you.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Why being "too embarrassed to ask for help" is a signal of insecurity and how to break that pattern
• How to learn from wisdom instead of sad experience by touring other projects and walking with other superintendents
• How "go see and steal" accelerates improvement (and why it's the best form of flattery
• How fresh-eyes walks and asking for feedback prevent repeat mistakes and protect project outcomes
• How to build a pack mindset hunt as a pack, leverage the team, and stop being an island

What would change this month if you scheduled one jobsite tour, asked for feedback, and stopped trying to do it all alone?

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: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg · LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt · LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnswSample

In this episode, Jason Schroeder lays out the hard truth: if you want to be successful, you have to stop doing what unsuccessful people do and stop patterning your career after leaders who never get promoted. He shares a real story of a technically capable field engineer who stayed stuck for years because pride kept him from following a simple double-check system. Then Jason walks through 20 destructive habits and mindsets that will quietly cap your career in construction if you don't neutralize them.

What you'll learn in this episode:

· Why pride and "I can get it right the first time" thinking will eventually derail you

· The 20 habits that stall careers in construction, from weak accountability to poor communication

· How disorganization and inability to delegate keep people stuck at lower levels

· Why speaking up, learning continuously, and staying mentally sharp are non-negotiable

· The difference between repeating mistakes and developing real grit and growth

· How to choose mentors who are actually getting promoted and model what works

If you want to be successful, stop tolerating the behaviors that guarantee failure and start copying what the best in the industry do consistently.

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: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg

· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt

· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured

· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw