Elevate Construction

Jason addresses setting realistic deadlines using content from Jim Collins' Beyond Entrepreneurship 2.0. Humans are horrible at estimating time and can be four times off in early design phases. Contractors often undercut budgets and durations by 15 to 20 percent forcing crash landing management style. Main focus is estimating effort not time, using Takt planning for accurate predictions, and building culture where missing deadlines is not an option. What you'll learn in this episode: Humans horrible at time estimation: Traditional project estimation error shows four times wrong in feasibility phase Estimate effort not time: Planning poker shows 25 percent error estimating effort vs much worse with time Takt plan better than CPM: Schematic design Takt estimating effort and flow beats CPM after finished design Jim Collins deadline story: Contractor moved from October 31 to March 31 at 5pm, hit deadline with 15 minutes to spare Culture of discipline on deadlines: Zero tolerance for missing, only two acceptable ways to miss Realistic deadlines required: Can't hold people accountable to unrealistic dates, they sacrifice families to meet them Deadlines stimulate progress but only if they are commitments, if everyone knows deadlines will slip then you have no deadlines. 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

Jason discusses asking for what you need based on Chris Voss's Never Split the Difference and Brendan Burchard's High Performance Habits. Most people say yes more than you think, with 80 percent success rate when asking for legitimate needs the first time. Main focus is understanding three types of yeses and avoiding the second yes problem when contractors lack proper planning and ask owners repeatedly for schedule and budget changes. What you'll learn in this episode: First and second yes principle: 80 percent get yes first time, second yes angers people when asking again Three types of yeses: Counterfeit yes plans to say no, confirmation yes is simple affirmation, commitment yes leads to action Get to no first: Start with nos to clarify what won't work, then commitment yes is more likely real Takt planning prevents second yes: Have clarity on budget and schedule first time, not schematic 11 months then CD 13 months Know what the is is: Make everything visual, show data and schedule, be factual not guessing Ask for what's needed: Stop leaving good decisions on the table, ask for right team budget schedule change orders Studies show people say yes to things actually needed, stop being afraid to ask for what protects workers and preserves families. 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

Jason shares mind-blowing lean concepts from Nicholas Modig's YouTube video "This is Lean Management" that changed his perspective on continuous improvement and quality. He uses airport toilets as proof construction does not continuously improve, highlighting how primitive our standards remain after 100 years. Main focus is quality must be built in at source and treating every day like day one with fanatical continuous improvement culture. What you'll learn in this episode: Are we lean? Hard to say because I wasn't here yesterday, lean is continuous improvement today vs yesterday Treat every day like day one: Quality and continuous improvement must be core rock solid belief system Stop, call, wait: Lexus plant workers trained for month on what to do when problem occurs Start with one crew experiment: Create anchor project to train and brainwash quality culture at source Check work before moving on: Crews notice defects, fix before moving, know what bugs them and eliminate waste Construction doesn't know quality yet: Need to experiment with companies ready for total participation and visual systems Joy is in the journey not just destination, if you have a crew ready to partner on quality and continuous improvement reach out. 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

Jason uses the metaphor of keeping a horse's head up on steep mountain trails to explain how to recover troubled projects and keep teams focused. Three key components are required: cohesive multiplier leadership, teams embracing five crucial behaviors, and strenuous but achievable performance goals. He shares three project recovery examples including removing leaders who prevented accountability and teams that became regional tour destinations after implementing Patrick Lencioni systems. What you'll learn in this episode: Three components for recovery: Cohesive multiplier leaders, five behaviors, strenuous performance goals PM and super must be united: Go to lunch twice weekly, get proximity, become friends or nothing else works Five crucial behaviors: Trust, healthy conflict, goal setting, accountability, performance in that order Focus on what teams can control: Keep eyes on contract work not uncontrollable change order volumes Sometimes leaders must be removed: Even on 200 million dollar projects if they prevent accountability Patrick Lencioni books turn teams around: Motive, Five Dysfunctions, Death by Meeting, Advantage provide vocabulary and systems If project team senses PM and superintendent are not cohesive nothing else will work, that relationship is foundation. 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

Jason interviews Dean Reed, DPR's former lean and IPD leader for 24 years and LCI 2020 Pioneer Award recipient. Dean introduced Jason to Takt planning and advanced last planner techniques. Main focus is creating lean culture rather than implementing lean systems, with emphasis on problem solving and understanding that lean is not about efficiency or working faster but about respect for people and making workers' lives better. What you'll learn in this episode: Create lean don't implement it: Don't go implement quality, go train and select people who create quality culture Spend 9/10 time understanding problem: Most people solve wrong problem by jumping to solutions too quickly Lean is not about efficiency or speed: Toyota doesn't focus on working faster, that is big misunderstanding Listen to frontline workers: They are closest to problem, most education makes you think you have solution Start with real meaningful problems: Pick problems carefully that make lives of people doing work better Respect for people comes naturally: Eastern thinkers have holistic view, Toyota doesn't even question it Executives want lean thinking it's about efficiency doing things faster, that is wrong, lean is about solving right problems. 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

Jason shares two game-changing observations: a cohesive group of senior superintendents operating as a wolf pack instead of lone wolves, and the concept of constraining time to drive effectiveness. He reads from Peter Kiewit's 1981 document on maintaining good health as essential for leadership. Main focus is reducing wasted hours and using freed time for continuous improvement and career advancement. What you'll learn in this episode: Wolf pack vs lone wolves: Supers who text, call, share solutions, have healthy conflict dominate Good health essential: Peter Kiewit says excess weight and lack of self-discipline limit effectiveness Constrain time to 55 hours: Use saved time for continuous improvement not more mundane work One-piece flow stops context switching: Do report immediately after visit, saves 30 to 60 minutes Stop unnecessary work: Eliminate reports nobody reads, 17 entry field forms, duplicate data transfers Leader standard work non-negotiable: Time block weekly, protect 20 percent that brings 80 percent return Working excessive hours masks ineffectiveness with wasted time, constraint forces hard questions about what advances you and company. 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

Jason outlines steps to improve company field operations while sharing podcast growth hitting 700 daily listeners and 50,000 total downloads. He addresses trade partners pulling workers from stable Takt projects to feed chaotic projects with excessive crews. Main focus is building strong field leadership through monthly meetings, training programs, and creating cohesive superintendent groups that share and collaborate. What you'll learn in this episode: Don't rob stable Takt projects: Trade partners pulling 3 workers from 15 person stable crew to add to 85 person chaotic project kills flow Monthly superintendent meetings critical: Get field leader input before decisions, create buy-in through participation Bi-monthly training flywheel: Craft, foreman, field engineer, superintendent training continuously running Home-grow superintendents: Craft progression program through field engineering path, not held hostage by industry hires General superintendent criteria: Must be humble fanatical learners and cultural fit, never promote stuck-in-ways leaders Turn lone wolves into wolf pack: Best super groups call each other, tour jobs, share advice openly Field representation must be on leadership team, if finances and marketing are represented but not your product that says something. 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

Jason addresses utilizing field engineers as superintendents' best support system. Superintendents plan and execute work while field engineers are builders who handle layout, quality control, safety, and production tracking. Contractors are incentivized to undercut costs upfront and pay for mistakes out of contingency rather than investing in field engineers. Jason argues spending 230k on field engineers prevents 280k in mistakes and black eyes. What you'll learn in this episode: Field engineers are builders: Superintendents plan and execute, field engineers do dirty work with foreman and craft Quality control frontline: Layout, production tracking, trend charts, high risk features of work, overhead sealing inspections Safety presence daily: Help with pretask plans, paperwork, build rapport with trades, brainwashed into right behaviors CM at risk incentive problem: Easier to negotiate contingency for mistakes than spend money upfront on field engineers Shortchanging extends duration and cost: Undercut project financially you spend more money, shorten duration you extend it Oakland on fire for field engineers: Great program, leads in each region, best boot camps and training right now If you try to shorten duration too much you increase duration, if you shortchange project financially you spend more money. 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

Jason interviews John Sladek and Jake Sladek from Rich Duncan Construction in Salem, Oregon while touring projects in Phoenix. They discuss scaling lean systems and last planner standardization across companies and projects. John shares his 10-7 board system with master schedule, roadblocks, milestones, PPC tracker, and TIMES reminders. Jake demonstrates how visual whiteboards work even on small remodel projects with client feedback showing organization matters more than cost. What you'll learn in this episode: 10-7 board system: Master schedule, roadblocks, milestones, PPC tracker, make ready planning boards TIMES acronym for reminders: Tools, Information, Materials, Manpower, Safety, Space to work at Visual whiteboards scale to any project size: Even $50k kitchen remodels benefit from schedule and checklists Client feedback on organization: Customers willing to pay more for visible organization and communication One-piece flow saves time: Mobile command center in vehicle completes reports before next job, saves 30 to 90 minutes Just start now: Get a mentor, customize systems to your company and circumstances Everything is fractal, lean principles and visual systems scale from small remodels to 250 million dollar 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

Jason finishes the mega project implementation series with part two. Main theme is everything is fractal, smaller patterns repeat at larger scale which means methods for medium projects can scale to billion dollar mega projects. Jason breaks down team metrics, morning worker huddles, trade partner training challenges, and composite cleanup crews. He emphasizes breaking large projects into smaller functional areas with dedicated leadership. What you'll learn in this episode: Everything is fractal: Scale from small to large projects by breaking into functional segments Morning worker huddle non-negotiable: Even during COVID separate into smaller groups, no excuses No composite cleanup crews: If supers can't get trades to clean up themselves they can't do anything else Use runners for data collection: Senior super uses runners to gather status updates from field Train trade partners: Spend more time and be more intentional about team balance and coverage Break billion dollar projects into smaller areas: Assistant supers can make their segment remarkable Next week topic is what assistant superintendents can do for lean when project superintendent doesn't get it. 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