Ep.242 - Build a Little Better - Honesty & Integrity

Jason discusses integrity, doing the right thing even when nobody is watching. Definition: quality of being honest with strong moral principles; state of being whole and undivided. Story 1: Jason graded contractors on site, self-perform got Fs, asked Jason to mark them differently because "we're the same company." Jason refused for 3 months until they fell in line. Story 2: Basement/level 1 had 80% priority walls in contract, levels 2-4 had MEP overhead first (no priority walls). Self-perform asked Jason to force MEP trades to change on level 2 even though MEP had prefabricated for original plan. Self-perform complained to leadership, tried to get Jason in trouble, but leadership eventually supported doing the right thing. Story 3: Recent call, person dispatched to finish punch list noticed other issues (doors, lights not working), was told by project executive "don't add new items to the list, only do what they're telling us." Person went to another leader who handled it properly. Junior person had to remind senior leader of moral obligation. Challenge from "The Five Essential People Skills": 13 integrity questions (conducted personal business on company time? used company resources personally? called in sick when not sick? negative gossip? etc.). How you do one thing is how you do everything. Construction needs to be known for honesty and integrity.

What you'll learn in this episode:

• Integrity definition: Doing the right thing when nobody is watching; state of being whole and undivided

• Story 1: Contractor grading - self-perform got Fs, asked Jason to favor them because "same company"

• Jason refused for 3 months, told them: "Fire me or fall in line because I'm not doing this"

• Self-perform should be safest, cleanest, most obedient, most helpful trade on entire site

• Story 2: Priority walls - basement/level 1 had 80% in contract, levels 2-4 had MEP overhead first

• Self-perform wanted to change on level 2, force MEP to adapt even though they'd prefabricated for original plan

• Jason: "That's dishonest. I'm not going to do that to the mechanical folks"

• Self-perform complained to Jason's bosses, tried to get him in trouble, but leadership eventually supported him

• Story 3: Person on punch list noticed other issues, told by project executive "don't add new items"

• Junior person had to remind senior leader of moral obligation to fix everything

• Never put your people in position where they're divided against what they know to be moral and right

• 13 integrity questions from "The Five Essential People Skills": Personal business on company time? Used company resources personally? Called in sick when not sick? Negative gossip? Violated company rules? Failed to follow through? Withheld information? Fudged time sheet/invoice? Delivered second-rate goods? Less than honest to make sale? Accepted inappropriate gift? Took credit for someone else's work? Failed to admit/correct mistake?

• How you do one thing is how you do everything

• What you do is who you are

Always act with honesty and integrity. On we go.

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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