Elevate Construction

Takt planning isn't just a scheduling tool it's a jobsite management system that makes the plan visual, predictable, and easy to run in the field. In this episode, Jason explains how Takt can partner with CPM to keep schedules realistic, crew-tied, and flow-based, while shifting the team's energy away from endless schedule updates and toward fanatical roadblock removal. You'll learn the core mechanics throughput, bottlenecks, and stagger (Takt time) and how to "hold the line" with just-in-time deliveries and finish-as-you-go quality so the system actually works. If you want less chaos, fewer meetings, and more control, this is the playbook. What you'll learn in this episode: Why Takt planning is the simplest way to manage a project and how it pairs with CPM as an accountability partner How to think in throughput, identify bottlenecks, and align the whole team to one sustainable production rate What "stagger" (Takt time) means and how it creates predictable handoffs and geographic control The rules of Takt: hold the line, schedule deliveries, finish as you go, protect areas, and don't dispatch early How to run visual meetings with Takt plans + roadblock maps (including a practical Bluebeam workflow) so roadblocks surface early and get removed fast Are you managing a schedule or are you managing a system that makes roadblocks visible and flow inevitable? 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

Scheduling doesn't need to be a complex mystery that only a CPM expert can manage—it can be simple, visual, and built around flow. In this episode, Jason introduces tech planning and sets up a deep dive into Takt planning as a game-changing way to plan projects with rhythm, predictability, and geographic control. You'll learn why constantly pushing work "to the left" creates chaos in the supply chain, increases inventory, and overburdens project teams. This is the start of a series designed to help you build a one-page plan, hold the dates, and shift your energy from schedule babysitting to fanatical roadblock removal. What you'll learn in this episode: What Takt planning is and how it uses rhythm, stagger, and flow to make the plan predictable Why CPM schedules often drive non-collaborative "push" behavior and create variation on projects How a one-page Takt plan helps the supply chain deliver materials closer to the right time and reduce inventory Why holding the dates matters and how moving crews early can throw the entire project into chaos The non-negotiables for making Takt work: roadblock removal, finish-as-you-go quality, and geographic control If you stopped trying to manage the schedule and started clearing roadblocks for flow, how different would your project feel? 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

The skilled craft aren't just part of the project, they're the heroes who make the money, fund the paychecks, and carry the work with their bodies. In this episode, Jason challenges the industry's habits that disrespect workers and lays out practical ways leaders can rebuild trust through humility, service, and real support. You'll hear a field story about jumping in with the crew during a tough concrete placement and how that simple act of solidarity transformed the job into a true team effort. This is a direct call to change your mindset, your systems, and your daily behaviors so the craft are treated like the priority they deserve to be. What you'll learn in this episode: Why the skilled craft are the real value-add and why they should be treated as the heroes on site How humility and service (picking up trash, helping in the field) build instant rapport and trust Why clean bathrooms, lunchrooms, parking, and jobsite conditions are non-negotiable signs of respect How to organize communication and office systems around the field not around management convenience Daily leadership habits that prove respect: eat lunch with craft, ask for advice, and actively serve crews If the craft truly became your #1 customer, what would you change on your project site this week? 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

Don't settle for the life you "ended up with" , decide who you're going to be, then start acting like it today. In this hard-talk message for foremen and workers, Jason challenges the excuses, the distractions, and the self-limiting beliefs that keep people stuck. You'll hear a practical formula to simplify your life, leverage your strengths, accelerate your progress, and multiply your impact by helping others. If you're ready to expect more and live a remarkable life, this is your wake-up call. What you'll learn in this episode: Why you are responsible for where you are and how to decide your next step on purpose How hedonism and distractions (TV, alcohol, drugs, video games) quietly steal your future How to use the 80/20 rule to focus on the few habits that create most of your results Why your friends, your inputs, and your daily habits determine who you become The "Simplify, Leverage, Accelerate, Multiply" formula to build a better life and help others What are you tolerating today that proves you're settling and what will you purge so you can rise? 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

Trade partners don't "just work for us" they're the reason we make progress at all. In this episode, Jason lays out why a general contractor can't win unless trade partners are profitable and successful, and how to build real collaboration through culture, team systems, and accountability. You'll hear practical ways to remove the office-vs-field divide, create true PM/Super partnership, and implement simple feedback loops that force continuous improvement. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: Why a GC can't be successful unless trade partners are successful and profitable The real definition of "project success" (and why schedule alone doesn't count) How "total participation" becomes the unlock for buy-in and collaboration Why trade partners suffer when the schedule has no flow and what to do about it How Takt planning and Last Planner create predictable workflow for trades How to eliminate the office vs. field mentality with proximity and shared systems Why PMs and supers must operate as equal partners (and what breaks when they don't) How to stop gossip-and-complaint cycles by forcing issues into direct conversation Why involving supers in buyout and PMs in planning kills blame and finger-pointing The fastest accountability system: weekly trade grading of the GC (and GC grading of trades) Pick one of the systems from this episode and implement it this week don't "talk about it." Start with the simplest: a weekly scorecard where trade partners grade the GC team and the GC grades trade partners, then share the results every Friday so everyone can see the trend and improve. 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

If you want superintendents to represent the company, protect the customer, and run consistent operations, you have to build a culture that makes that behavior the norm not the exception. In this episode, Jason breaks down why progress comes from team health and culture (not just technical skill), why some supers treat the role like "just a job," and how to create systems that drive buy-in and accountability across every project. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: Why operational performance is driven by culture and team health not just technical training How unclear superintendent career paths turn a "career" into a "job" The difference between "hours worked" and actual effectiveness on a project How to build buy-in with relevance, measurement, and connection Why project coverage systems and a visible day plan prevent missed lockups and gaps How to create a company cascade that scales expectations to every project team What to measure and incentivize without creating a "hide the problems" culture How passionate leadership and recognition systems create invested teams The exact leadership behaviors that turn "warm bodies" into committed operators Now take this and apply it: pick one project this week and install a real coverage plan (who closes up, who's on-call, what the day plan is, and how it's communicated). Then audit your culture are your superintendents treated like leaders with a future, or dispatched like babysitters? 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

A lot of leaders are asking the same question: where did all the great superintendents go and why do so many seem checked out? In this episode, Jason tackles a listener question about getting supers bought in, especially when they treat the role like "just a job" instead of a career. You'll hear what drives disengagement, what high-performing companies do differently, and how to build a culture where superintendents actually want to lead. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: Why some superintendents see the role as "just a job" instead of a career How unclear career paths and compensation expectations impact buy-in The power of showing a visible growth path (levels, training, compensation, ownership) Why "learned hopelessness" creates bad projects and how to reverse it How to use anchor projects to model operational excellence and scale results Why immersive training changes behavior faster than boring presentations The four needs that drive engagement: appreciation, pay, measurable goals, and connection How to build culture by investing in top performers and removing culture killers Why leaders must push people to decide: bought in or out If you want stronger superintendents, don't wait for a miracle hire build the system that creates them. Start by making the path clear, training relentlessly, and protecting the culture with real standards. 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

Most leaders waste their time on the wrong people and it's quietly killing their teams. In this episode, Jason breaks down why spending most of your time on low performers actually pushes your best people away. You'll learn how to shift your attention, motivate the middle, and let culture do the hard work for you. This is a practical leadership reset for project managers who want real leverage and real results. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: Why teams naturally split into bought-in, undecided, and dissenting groups How "squeaky wheels" steal time and attention from your top performers Why ignoring A-players sends the wrong message to your entire team How rewarding top performers pulls the middle group upward Why dissenters either improve—or remove themselves How incentive and accountability work together to protect culture Why zero tolerance for bad behavior is actually respect for people How focusing on your best people scales leadership through others If you're a project manager or leader, take one action today: schedule intentional time with your top performers this week. Coach them. Listen to them. Invest in them. Then watch how the rest of the team responds. 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 is one of the most impactful interviews I've ever done. Paul Akers joins me to talk about how lean actually works when it reaches every worker on site not just leadership. We dive into quality, safety, respect for people, and how small daily improvements create clean, precise, and remarkable projects. If you want lean to stick and scale in construction, this episode will change how you think. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: · Why Two-Second Lean made lean culture accessible to construction · How "Stop, Call, Wait" drives quality and safety at every level · Why temporary workers must be trained to the same standard as full-time workers · How respect for people and respect for resources change behavior · Why relentless daily training is required to sustain lean · How Japanese job sites maintain cleanliness, order, and precision · Why total participation not tools is the real goal of lean · How lean is a way of living, not just a work system If you want quality and safety to actually reach the field, don't just listen pick one thing from this episode and apply it today. Share this episode with your superintendent, foreman, and one trade partner and start building a common language around "Stop, Call, Wait." And if you got value from this, leave a review on your preferred podcast platform those reviews help us reach more builders who want to do it the right way. 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 your project team isn't listening, isn't bought in, and collaboration feels dead, it can feel like you're stuck especially if you're an APM without "real authority." In this episode, Jason breaks down what actually works when leaders are stuck at "good," meetings are ineffective, and communication is fractured. You'll learn how to lead without a title by building trust, creating undeniable results, and using the team meeting as your best leverage point to drive alignment and action without manipulating people or waiting for permission forever. What you'll learn in this episode. · How to create collaboration when you don't have the title (and why it's still possible) · The "leader for the circumstance" concept and how to step into it the right way · The 3 elements people need to change: understand it, feel it, and see the path made easy · Why a strong team meeting is your biggest tool (and how to use it to create buy-in) · How to gain a "teaspoon of authority" by owning what others won't or can't do and scaling results If you're tired of feeling powerless, pick one area, build a plan, prove it works, and let the results do the convincing. 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