Elevate Construction

Passionless Projects Fail. Don't Let Yours Be One of Them.

In construction, critique is essential but cutting out the heart of a project in the name of safety or consensus? That's how you kill innovation.

In Episode 1378 of the Elevate Construction Podcast, Jason Schroeder draws a bold parallel between Pixar's recent failure with Elio and what's happening on too many job sites: over-sanitized planning, zero boldness, and teams afraid to lead with vision.

Tune in to hear:

• Why PPC (Percent Plan Complete) is overrated and what actually drives performance.

• How over-engineering risk reviews can leave you with a "milk toast" project.

• The warning signs that your team is playing it too safe.

• A powerful reminder from a real-world, passion-filled project (BSRL) that broke the mold.

🔥 Fresh eyes reviews and critiques are vital but if you cut the passion, you cut the impact.

Listen now and keep your projects bold, beautiful, and builder-led.

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

This episode pulls no punches.

Jason Schroeder breaks down a hard truth in the construction world, some superintendents are sabotaging themselves and their teams by clinging to outdated habits, sloppy leadership, and inflated egos.

He's not calling out individuals he's calling out the persona that holds this industry back.

You'll hear:

• The brutal contrast between Ego-Driven Fools vs. Superintendents 2.0 & 3.0.

• Real-life examples of toxic leadership and why it fails.

• 10 clear traits of ego-driven behavior (and how Jason admits to struggling with a few himself).

• Actionable ways to ditch the ego and build real influence through humility, planning, and leadership.

🔥 Whether you lead crews or aspire to, this episode will challenge how you show up on the jobsite and in life.

Don't just build projects. Build yourself.

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

Toxic Culture vs. Healthy Accountability. Where's the Line?

Not all dissent is healthy. Not all questions are constructive.

In this episode, Jason Schroeder takes on one of the most nuanced leadership challenges in construction today: How do you build a psychologically safe culture without letting toxic behaviors grow in the shadows?

In this episode, Jason dives into:

• The fine line between speaking up and sabotaging culture.

• Why "shadow leadership" and gossip can silently erode trust.

• A list of 20 toxic workplace behaviors every leader must watch for.

• How to protect your team's voice without opening the door to dysfunction.

• A practical script for calling out harmful behavior without becoming toxic yourself.

🔥 If you're a builder, superintendent, or leader struggling to balance openness with order, this episode is a must.

It's raw, it's real and it just might shift how you lead forever.

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

What if the most powerful leadership move on your jobsite isn't a schedule update or a safety briefing but a heartfelt thank you?

In this episode, Mark Story returns to unpack the often-overlooked superpower of appreciation in construction. From walking jobsites with intention to catching workers doing something right, Mark shares real stories that prove how gratitude changes culture, boosts morale, and builds unstoppable crews.

Jason and Mark also dive into:✅ Soft skills that separate real leaders from seagulls.✅ The daily rituals that build trust and loyalty.✅ How a two-word phrase can be more valuable than a paycheck.✅ And why your success at work starts at home.

Whether you're a general superintendent, project leader, or just getting started in the field this episode will make you rethink how you show up, lead, and connect.

🔊 Hit play and let this episode remind you why people not just plans build remarkable projects.

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

When the project starts slipping and leadership refuses to plan, what do you do?

In this raw, honest episode, Jason responds to a powerful message from a superintendent in Brazil caught in the middle of a $1M project with zero systems and a PM who believes planning is the problem. What follows is a masterclass in field leadership, mental resilience, and how to lead up when everything feels like it's falling apart.

You'll hear:

• A clear, step-by-step strategy to get ANY project back on track.

• What to do right now when there's waste, rework, and no plan in sight.

• Why "just figure it out as we go" is a toxic excuse (and how to respond when that's the culture).

• A heartfelt reminder of why systems aren't just tools they're respect for the people who build.

This is a must-listen for anyone who's ever felt stuck, unheard, or on the edge of burnout in construction leadership. If you've been told "that's just how it is," this episode will remind you: it doesn't have to be.

👉 Listen now and reclaim your power to lead, even when no one else will.

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

Just made the leap into a superintendent role? Feeling like you're drinking from a firehose? You're not alone and this episode is for you.

Jason Schroeder answers a powerful listener message from a newly promoted superintendent who's going from carpenter to commercial GC leader. If you're stepping into leadership in construction (or helping someone who is), this episode lays out the exact resources and habits you need to thrive fast.

You'll hear:

• A full breakdown of free tools, templates, books, and boards for field engineers and supers.

• The one mindset shift that turns learning into action.

• Jason's proven "Three Habits of a Builder" that separate great supers from overwhelmed ones.

• Why he's training ChatGPT to write with his voice and how it's changing the game for industry books.

This episode is a real-time masterclass in humble leadership, resourcefulness, and how to grow into a role that scares you (in the best way).

👉 Listen now and build the future you're stepping into.

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

We say value engineering. But what we're actually doing? Design amputation.

In this short but fiery episode, Jason Schroeder exposes the ugly truth behind how most construction teams gut their designs under the false flag of "VE." This isn't about optimizing systems or delivering value it's dismemberment engineering, plain and simple.

You'll hear:

• Why traditional "value engineering" is a lie we've all accepted.

• The brutal consequences of siloed design and reactive budgeting.

• What true value engineering looks like (spoiler: it starts before drawings are finished).

• A clear roadmap to integrated, lean-aligned design that actually works.

If you've ever seen a beautifully designed project get hacked apart because it was "over budget," this episode will hit home and give you a better way forward.

Listen now to stop the cycle and start building smarter.

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

Let's be real. "critical path" thinking is destroying your jobsite.

In this punchy, no-BS episode, Jason Schroeder breaks down the dangerous myth of the critical path and introduces something far more powerful: the Path of Critical Flow.

You'll hear:

• Why "knowing the critical path" is actually making you push, panic, and waste time.

• The brutal truth about crashing schedules (and how it hurts, not helps).

• The smarter way to plan using buffers, flow, and sequencing.

• How to spot bottlenecks and fix them without burning out your team.

• A hilariously sharp analogy involving babysitting, fake kidnappers, and parental panic.

If you've ever been told to work weekends, throw labor at it, or just get it done, you need this episode.

Forget panic. Plan with flow. Build with sanity.

👉 Listen now and step into the future of construction scheduling.

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

What happens when a superintendent builds the hospital… and years later, his own daughter becomes a patient there?

In this unforgettable episode, Jason sits down with one of his all-time favorite humans: Jake Smaellie, a master builder with a story that will hit you right in the gut. From healthcare construction to personal healing, Jake opens up about:

• The emotional moment he walked his daughter into an MRI room he built.

• Why cleaning jobsite bathrooms (yes, really) sets the tone for leadership.

• The power of saying "good morning" and how it's a secret weapon for team culture.

• His incredible 180-pound weight loss and training for a 200-mile bike ride.

• How to lead by example, not by title.

Funny. Raw. Inspiring. This is more than construction, it's a masterclass in humility, grit, and taking care of people.

🔥 If you're a builder, leader, or just a human being trying to make a difference don't miss this one.

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

In this episode, Jason responds to two powerful listener messages.

First, a PM asks: How do you lead when you're new to a project and the entire team knows more than you do? Jason shares the exact strategy he would use to build trust, gain clarity, and define his role starting with humility and collaboration.

Second, a reflection from a $300M industrial project in the Amazon reveals something important: even with advanced systems like BIM, AWP, and Last Planner in place, production suffers when foremen and supervisors lack core skills. Through Kaizen cycles, the team discovered gaps in pre-task planning, tool management, drawing reading, and 3D model usage and solved it with targeted training.

Jason connects this insight to real examples like High Street and P1 Group's Forge training facility, emphasizing that skilled people, not just systems make the difference. A powerful reminder that builders need both the plan and the preparation.

If you're new to a team or trying to level up field performance, this one's for you.

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