Elevate Construction

In this episode, Jason Schroeder explores how to successfully implement change, even when change feels difficult. He outlines key principles from Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath, focusing on directing the rider, motivating the elephant, and shaping the path. If you've struggled with getting your team or yourself to adopt new practices, this podcast will give you actionable steps to make change happen and drive success on your projects. What you'll learn in this episode: · How to apply the elephant and rider analogy to manage change · The importance of motivating the team emotionally and intellectually · How to shape the path and reduce obstacles to make change easier · Practical steps for leading teams through difficult transitions · The power of creating clear direction, emotional connections, and a clear path What change will you implement tomorrow to start driving your team's success? 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 discusses the vital role of employee engagement and how to achieve it in your teams. He shares key insights from Patrick Lencioni's work, The Truth About Employee Engagement, offering practical tips on how to keep employees motivated and fulfilled at work. If you've ever wondered how to increase productivity and build a more engaged, successful team, this podcast is a must-listen. What you'll learn in this episode: · How to increase employee engagement through personal connection and measurable goals · The three signs of a miserable job: irrelevance, immeasurability, and anonymity · Why employees leave their bosses, not companies, and how to prevent that · How to create an environment where your team works at 100% capacity · The role of intentional check-ins and real conversations in boosting morale and productivity How will you connect with your team today to ensure they feel valued and relevant in their work? 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 discusses the critical importance of team balance and health on construction projects. He shares insights on how to create a work-life blend, improve team dynamics, and ensure that everyone, from the superintendent to the craft workers, can go home on time and still meet project goals. If you're struggling with overworked teams, long hours, or the stress of balancing work and personal life, this episode offers a systematic approach to help create stability and balance on your projects. What you'll learn in this episode: · How to implement team coverage systems to prevent overburdening team members · Why work-life blend is more effective than work-life balance · The importance of creating a culture where team members can take time off without guilt · How to avoid burnout by setting a good example and having clear systems in place · How to maintain stability and operational excellence on your job site How will you create a work environment where team balance and health are prioritized? 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 tackles the vital topic of building trust on construction teams. He shares insights from his personal experience and Brene Brown's work on vulnerability, emphasizing the importance of transparency, integrity, and vulnerability in creating a high-performing team. If you're looking to build a stronger, more cohesive team where trust is the foundation, this episode will give you practical tips and principles to make that happen. What you'll learn in this episode: · The importance of vulnerability in building trust · How to create a team culture based on transparency and accountability · Actionable steps to strengthen trust within your team · Key behaviors that can help your team overcome dysfunction and perform at a high level · How to intentionally build trust and keep it thriving What steps will you take today to intentionally build trust within your team? 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 kicks off a new series on teaming and organizational health by explaining why balanced, healthy teams are the biggest competitive advantage in construction. He introduces the difference between multipliers and diminishers, why every team needs a clear performance goal, and why healthy conflict and real accountability are non-negotiable if you want a team to reach high performance. You'll also learn the "team performance curve" (working group to high-performance team) and what it takes to move a group up that curve so people feel trusted, relevant, and effective, while still getting home on time. What you'll learn in this episode: Why team health matters more than strategy or tools Multipliers vs. diminishers and their impact on teams The role of clear performance goals in team success How teams progress to high performance Why healthy conflict and accountability are required If you want a high-performing team, you must build around three essentials: a multiplier leader, a clear strenuous performance goal, and a culture where people practice healthy conflict and hold each other mutually accountable. Without those, team-building activities and personality tests won't move performance. 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 breaks down the hidden behaviors that quietly block leaders from taking their next step and shows how to identify and eliminate them. You will learn the 16 most common leadership blocks that show up on real projects, from wanting to be liked to indecisiveness, perfectionism, and playing savior with others. This matters because these patterns don't just hurt project performance, they destroy accountability, burn out leaders, and rob people of balance at home. If you want to grow your influence, lead with respect, and stop being held back by blind spots, this episode gives you a clear place to start. What you'll learn in this episode Why common leadership blocks, like wanting to be liked, indecisiveness, perfectionism, or playing savior, quietly sabotage your growth. How selfishness sits at the root of many limiting behaviors and how shifting focus to respect and responsibility changes everything. How to identify your personal blocks and begin intentionally practicing new behaviors that strengthen your leadership. Why real leadership requires accountability, courage, and the willingness to speak up, even when it's uncomfortable. How the principles of respect for people and doing the right thing can guide any leadership decision with clarity. Pick the one leadership block that shows up most in your behavior, write it down, identify where it shows up on your project, and intentionally practice the opposite behavior until it becomes your new standard. 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 explores one of the most powerful leadership concepts in construction: burning your ships. Jason breaks down why project teams fall into the trap of pushing problems to the end, and how leaders can eliminate that escape route by creating clear milestones, urgency, and absolute commitment to the plan. Through compelling stories and practical examples, he shows how teams win when there is no fallback option and everyone understands the true performance goal. If you want your projects to finish on time without chaos at the end, this episode will challenge the way you lead and plan. What you'll learn in this episode Why construction teams naturally push issues to the end of the project and how to stop it. How intermediate milestones act as "points of no return" that drive urgency and discipline. Why burning your ships creates focus, unity, and predictable project success. How to use visual milestone boards and team ownership to maintain accountability. Why real urgency not artificial emergencies is essential for high-performing teams. If you removed every excuse to delay and committed fully to the plan in front of you, how much more predictable and peaceful would your projects and your leadership be? 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 digs into one of the most powerful levers a superintendent has: the daily and weekly huddle system that aligns foremen, workers, and the project. Jason breaks down how afternoon foreman huddles, worker huddles, and a weekly planning rhythm transform chaos into clarity on any job site. Through real project examples and hard-earned lessons, he shows why scaling communication from the master schedule to the worker is the foundation of flow, stability, and predictable production. If you've ever struggled with firefighting, misalignment, or wasted mornings, this episode will reset how you plan and lead. What you'll learn in this episode Why foreman and worker huddles are essential to eliminating chaos and aligning every trade. How afternoon foreman huddles create better planning, fewer reroutes, and smoother mornings. Why two out of three meetings weekly planning, foreman huddles, worker huddles are the minimum for project stability. How to scale communication from the master schedule all the way to the day plan every worker can follow. How effective huddles reduce firefighting, improve safety, and give leaders the freedom to go home on time. If every person on your project knew exactly what winning looked like tomorrow, how different would your days and your results be? 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 goes straight to the heart of project leadership by revealing the early warning signs that a construction job is heading into trouble. Jason shares a powerful list developed by seasoned general superintendents and explains how issues like uncleanliness, disorganization, team dysfunction, and failing systems are not root causes but symptoms pointing to deeper problems. Through real stories and clear examples, he shows how identifying these signals early allows leaders to intervene, restore flow, and protect workers, owners, and the project itself. If you want to stay ahead of crises instead of reacting to them, this episode is essential listening. What you'll learn in this episode How visible symptoms like uncleanliness, unsafe conditions, and chaos reveal deeper leadership and system failures. Why dysfunctional teams, low energy, turnover, and poor communication signal urgent project health concerns. How missing reporting systems and unclear metrics indicate that a team doesn't know where it stands. What multiple struggling subcontractors or unreasonable owners can tell you about the state of a project. How reestablishing flow and diagnosing true root causes can bring a troubled project back on track. If you could spot trouble on your project the moment it appears, how much time, money, and stress could you save and how many people could you protect? 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 brings a fresh and heartfelt look at Who Moved My Cheese? and why its lessons hit especially hard for builders navigating constant industry change. Jason and guest Jake Williams unpack the book's characters, the illusion of stability, and the fears that silently hold people back in their careers and personal growth. Through candid stories and real-world perspective, they show how embracing change, challenging old beliefs, and leaning into discomfort can reignite passion and possibility in construction. If you've ever felt stuck, resistant, or unsure about what's next, this episode will give you a renewed sense of direction. What you'll learn in this episode How fear quietly shapes decisions and how asking "What would I do if I weren't afraid?" can reset your entire path. Why success is not a destination but a mindset—and how believing you've "arrived" can limit your growth. How the four characters in Who Moved My Cheese? mirror the different ways we respond to change throughout our careers. Why adaptability, curiosity, and collaboration are becoming more valuable than stability in today's construction environment. How teams can leverage each other's strengths to move forward instead of getting stuck in old patterns. If your cheese moved today, would you chase it boldly or stay where you are hoping it comes back? 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