Does Excellence Cost More?
Dear Construction Nation, Have you ever been baffled by what makes one project team unmistakably high performing, and another team, with a similar caliber of members, fall short of success? This has been a question I’ve studied for over 35 years. I wanted to know; how can we ensure our projects succeed? The good news […]
The Anatomy of a Dispute
Dear Construction Nation, I once did partnering for a water district project. This was a $50 million project, and it was six months behind schedule and 30% complete when I was called. The contractor and owner had their trailers side by side on the site, but the team did not talk to each other. They […]
Your Culture Transfers to Your Projects
Dear Construction Nation, In 1980 when I joined what is today UCON, I fell in love with construction! I love the people. I love the entrepreneurial spirit. I love thinking up things, and then building them. I love the industry – it is large complex and ever changing. I love that the things we build […]
The Three Levels Of Resistance
You may think fear works; keeping people a little afraid to stay motivated. If you’re dictating to them what to do, they are likely to comply, but that does not mean they are following you.
Fear and Trust Cannot Coexist
If you are working towards trust, it is vital to understand what is on the other side. Naturally, you might ask, “what is the opposite of trust? The opposite of trust is fear. This means that fear and trust cannot coexist. As you look to improve the level of trust within your business, you must […]
The Trust-Cost Relationship
25 years ago, I came across some research that I thought was so dramatic at the time. This research displayed the importance of cooperation, collaboration and co-creation, especially when they are built on a co-trust environment and paradigm. The research was this: there is a direct correlation between the level of trust and the cost […]
It Started with a Fistfight
I began my trusted leadership journey many decades ago. While the journey has been a long one, it has been the most rewarding process I have ever experienced. It all started when I became the Executive Director of what is now one of the largest construction trade associations west of the Mississippi. This role carried […]
Adversarial Communication in Business
Last week I had mentioned arm wrestling and how it sets up an adversarial way of looking at each other. A way that prevents us from seeing what might be possible. I have been receiving questions like “how does that happen?” and “why does that happen in my business?” Well, it happens in an instant, […]
