Elevate Construction

In this episode, Jason Schroeder explains why lift drawings are one of the most important skills a field engineer can develop—and why the rule is simple: if you can't draw it, you can't build it. He breaks down what a lift drawing is, how to create one correctly by redrawing from the contract documents, and how it captures every connection, penetration, elevation change, and detail needed for a single scope. Most importantly, Jason reframes the purpose: lift drawings aren't just for the crew—they're a system to teach field engineers the building, expose design gaps early, and turn you into a master builder before the work ever starts. What you'll learn in this episode: What a lift drawing is and how it "lifts" all critical info onto one clear buildable sheet How to decide what belongs on the lift: make everything else transparent and capture every tie-in Why you must redraw from printed contract documents to catch errors and avoid copying mistakes The real purpose of lift drawings: train the field engineer, find omissions early, then support the crew A practical challenge to start now: pick a scope, build the lift, get it checked, and use it to QC If you can't clearly draw that wall that footing, and every penetration and tie-in— how will you ever guarantee it gets built right the first time? 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 Schroeder delivers a direct message to foremen and the teams they lead: take off your bags. He explains why foremen are the "German Shepherds" of the jobsite highly intelligent leaders who maintain order, protect the crew, and control safety, quality, cost, and schedule. When foremen stay on the tools, the system loses its guardrail, training stops, and mistakes multiply. Jason outlines what a foreman's day should look like, and gives a clear example of the difference between assigning a task and truly leading it with planning, clarity, and control. What you'll learn in this episode: Why foremen cannot "be part of the work" and still protect safety, quality, cost, and schedule What a foreman's daily rhythm should look like: huddles, crew prep, training, 5S, and coaching How real leadership means providing tools, information, materials, and expectations—not just giving orders Why foremen should not be running offsite and why presence with the crew is non-negotiable A practical example showing how to lead a task the right way: plan, brief, verify, and follow up If you're a foreman, are you acting like the guardian and trainer of the system—or are you wearing bags and hoping the crew figures it 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

In this episode, Jason Schroeder shares a memorable way to raise jobsite standards and regain operational control using one question: "Whose poop is this?" Through a powerful story from Chip and Dan Heath, Jason explains how people often won't face the truth until they're forced to "trip over it," and how that same principle applies to cleanliness, safety, organization, and follow-up in construction. You'll learn how superintendent and foreman walks—done with the right questions and accountability—can create a culture shift where leaders see the real conditions, get fed up with them, and start fixing problems as a team. What you'll learn in this episode: Why standards don't rise until people see the "naked truth" of jobsite conditions How superintendent/foreman walks can replace denial with ownership and real follow-through How to use questions, visual standards, and deviations to drive operational excellence Why "no meeting days" create space for field leadership to focus on the how of production How to build culture without chaos by getting leaders to commit, correct, and sustain standards When your team walks the site, do they actually see the problems—or are they still stepping around them and calling it normal? 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 Schroeder explains why no team can be high performing without healthy conflict, and why project managers must learn to encourage it without creating chaos. He breaks down the difference between false harmony, destructive conflict, and the productive middle, where better decisions are made. You'll learn how to intentionally mine for conflict in meetings, build trust, and guide teams toward open dialogue that improves safety, quality, and results. What you'll learn in this episode: Why avoiding conflict creates false harmony and leads to poor decisions How to visualize and manage the conflict spectrum without going too far Practical ways to invite quieter voices and pull real opinions into the room How to reinforce healthy conflict so people feel safe speaking up again What to do when a conversation crosses the line and trust needs repair Are your meetings protecting comfort—or creating the kind of conflict that leads to better outcomes? 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 Schroeder gets real about something construction tends to ignore until it's too late: your marriage. He shares why our industry is "riddled with divorces," why being home isn't the same as being present, and why he believes the target should be 15 hours of quality time with your partner each week. Using The 5 Love Languages as a practical framework, Jason explains how to identify what your spouse actually needs, how to "give first," and how to stop letting work steal your attention when you walk through the front door. What you'll learn in this episode: · Why 15 hours of quality time per week is a target worth fighting for, even if you don't hit it perfectly · How the five love languages work (words, quality time, gifts, acts of service, physical touch) and how to spot your partner's · Why construction leaders must stop confusing long hours with being "good" at the job, and how that mindset damages families · The basic relationship needs that often get missed when you're overloaded, distracted, and mentally stuck on tomorrow's problems · A simple challenge: go home on time, walk in ready to give 100%, and start rebuilding your marriage on purpose If you're honest… when you walk through the door at home, are you actually present—or are you still thinking about anchor bolts? 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 Schroeder breaks down why flow is king and why it has to become the primary focus for any superintendent who wants stable production, predictable schedules, and real project control. He explains how "push everything left" CPM scheduling often destroys flow, spikes inventory, and drives chaos and why Takt planning should come first to shape a schedule crews can actually follow. You'll learn how flow reduces waste, protects workers from schedule whiplash, and eliminates the trap of "build it fast now and fix it later" with massive punch lists at the end. What you'll learn in this episode: · Why flow (not "hurry up" behavior) is the foundation of Lean in construction · How CPM schedules can accidentally kill flow by pulling activities left and stacking trades on top of each other · Why Takt planning should come first, and how it should guide the master schedule logic · How flow reduces inventory, and why overproduction and inventory create the rest of the waste · The superintendent discipline that matters most: build flow, then stop moving the schedule forward and back Are you building a schedule that crews can flow through or are you creating an unpredictable system that forces everyone to "bring everything" and waste 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

In this episode, Jason Schroeder sits down with Brandon Montero to talk about what it really means to give 100% not hype, not perfection, but fully showing up with the right standard for the moment. Brandon shares how pride in workmanship, empathy, and personal accountability have shaped his career in surveying, and why "good enough" is usually just a comfort zone in disguise. If you've been coasting, holding back, or blaming your personality for staying small, this conversation will push you to raise your bar and follow through. What you'll learn in this episode: · What "giving 100%" actually means, and how to know when you're operating below your best · How to prepare your mind and body to show up on purpose (music, movement, posture, focus) · Why confidence and "getting in state" can be authentic when you follow through with action · How Brandon learned the difference between lazy standards and true craft through real mentors · A challenge to identify what you've been accepting as "good enough" and raise your personal bar Where are you using "that's just how I am" to stay comfortable—when you already know you've got more in 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

In this episode, Jason Schroeder speaks directly to field engineers with a simple principle that separates average builders from future leaders: the measure of your success is how many questions you ask. He explains why the "I didn't want to bother you" mindset leads to mistakes, rework, and slower growth, and why asking questions is how you fail forward faster and build real competence in the field. Jason also shares a leadership training example that shows why kids often learn faster than adults—because they try, fail, ask, and try again without fear—and challenges field engineers to build that same habit on purpose. · What you'll learn in this episode: · Why asking questions is the fastest path to growth for field engineers, foremen, and future supers · How "I didn't want to bother you" creates avoidable mistakes in layout, embeds, lift drawings, and more · Why asking questions in meetings saves time and prevents everyone from silently staying confused · How "fail forward faster" works—and why fear and pride slow your learning down · A practical challenge: track your questions daily and make asking 15+ per day a standard habit Are you trying to learn construction like an island or are you willing to ask the questions that make you dangerous in a good 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

In this episode, Jason Schroeder and Brandon Montero talk directly to workers and foremen about a career skill that gets overlooked but never stops mattering: dress, appearance, and presence. They break down how posture, eye contact, grooming, and professionalism shape the way people trust you, follow you, and respond to you long before you ever prove your skills. The message isn't "look fancy," it's "show pride, show confidence, and show up like you belong," while balancing personal style with professional standards that help you grow in the industry. What you'll learn in this episode: · Why posture and presence (shoulders back, head up) instantly affect how people trust and regard you · How strong eye contact builds rapport and credibility faster than almost anything else · Why confidence is self-belief not arrogance and how to project it without being cocky · How to balance personal expression (like tattoos) with professionalism, especially in first impressions · Why taking pride in your appearance signals pride in your work—and helps you "dress for the next position" When someone meets you on a jobsite for the first time, do they see a professional they can trust or someone who looks like they don't care yet? 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

In this episode, Jason Schroeder lays out a clear, field-tested set of operational excellence standards you can use to align your entire project team. He explains why visual standards work, how they raise the team's "set point," and why cleanliness, organization, and right-sized inventory buffers are some of the best indicators of a healthy project. Then he gives a practical 12-point checklist you can post, teach, and enforce so the site runs clean, safe, organized, and predictable. What you'll learn in this episode: · Why cleanliness, organization, and right-sized inventory buffers are the pulse-check for project health · How "set point" thinking explains why trades may call a messy job "clean," and how to raise expectations · The 12 operational excellence standards, including bathrooms, access ways, cords, deliveries, and organized workspaces · How to use visuals and posted standards to trigger integrity, accountability, and culture on the jobsite · How to implement these standards with consistency so crews start declaring breakdowns and fixing them fast If your project had to prove operational excellence tomorrow, which one of the 12 standards would expose the biggest gap first? 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