Why Construction Companies Stop Growing—and How to Fix It

Growth isn’t just about bigger projects or tighter timelines; it’s about developing leadership. When the leaders try to do everything themselves, struggle to delegate, or are unable to build trust within their teams, it often leads to hitting the ceiling. Emotional intelligence, intentional listening, and clarity of intent are essential in shaping high-performing teams. Building self-awareness, fighting the impostor syndrome, and leading through uncertainty might seem challenging at times, but it’s up to the leaders to decide which direction is best for your organization.  Rachel Burr is an executive coach, author, speaker, leadership consultant, and people expert with over 20 years of experience and a unique blend of insight, action, and humor. Having an exceptional understanding of how people work inside out, Rachel collaborates with leaders who are experts in their fields but in need of help with the people part of the leadership. She helps to break down confusing issues related to people by listening with heart, mind, and empathy, and trained analytical skills. She joined us today to talk about why construction companies stopped growing and how to fix them.    HIGHLIGHTS [01:42] ‘Listening’ as a fundamental skill in leadership.  [03:43] Managing emotional reactions in leadership.  [09:30] The importance of clarity and building trust with a team.  [12:38] The importance of being open to learn from mistakes. [14:20] Emotional intelligence in construction.  [17:46] The alignment between intent and delivery.  [25:24] Challenges of overcoming the impostor syndrome.  [29:46] The disadvantages of not listening.  [36:48] Letting go to grow.  [39:16] How to ask powerful questions?    KEY TAKEAWAYS Instead of hearing, listen to understand.  Stop trying to pretend you’re always logical, expect the emotions will show up.  In times of chaos, trust is what keeps a team steady. Build trust before the storm. Leadership isn’t about perfection. Make the best decision you can, learn from it, and keep moving forward.  Saying the right thing the wrong way can still do damage. Own your delivery, share your intent.  Remember that impostor syndrome is common among leaders. Treat it as a sign of pushing the boundaries, not failing.    RESOURCES Connect with Rachel Burr LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/rachelmburr/  Website - catamentum.com/    Butterfly Goo: The Down and Dirty Truth of Transformation Rachel Burr amazon.com/Butterfly-Goo-Dirty-Truth-Transformation/dp/B0DZD8MLQY    90-Day High-Performance Dashboard You can't afford to let your people drift. To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.   Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to: Get clear on what matters most. Drive focused action and accountability. Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.   Success doesn't happen by accident. It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency. Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.     Resources to Help You Win in Construction 📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/ 🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com ☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let’s connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me 🎧 Subscribe & Share If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!  

What happens when leadership isn’t about control but about a shared goal? What if the future business world looks more like a team, not a hierarchy? As more companies reconsider the traditional structures, models like worker cooperatives and employee-owned cooperatives are gaining momentum. They offer a way to codify culture, share decision-making, and maintain purpose beyond the founder’s occupancy. These models present an agreeable alternative in a time when millions of small businesses face uncertain futures. It’s time to see ownership as not a privilege for the few but a path for the many.  John Abrams is a succession planning consultant, workplace democracy advocate, author, and the co-founder of both South Mountain Company and Abrams+Angell. He retired and handed over the company he started at age 24 in 2022, and started Abrams+Angell with his partner. They consult with the triple bottom line (TBL) businesses to help them with succession planning, worker co-op conversions, financial literacy, leadership development, and business effectiveness. He is the author of “From Founder to Future: A Business Roadmap to Impact, Longevity, and Employee Ownership,” which provides knowledge, strategies, and tools to help business owners successfully complete transitions. He joined us today to talk about forgetting hierarchy and running a company as a true team.  HIGHLIGHTS [02:30] Understanding B corporations.  [05:56] The Impact of Codifying Company Culture.  [10:24] The importance of clear leadership for effective decision-making.  [13:00] The differences between worker cooperatives, ESOPs, and employee ownership trusts. [15:00] What is democracy in business? [18:07] The importance of listening in a coorperative environment.  [19:35] Turning the leadership into the next generation.  [23:45] Open book management.  [28:44] Employee ownership options.    KEY TAKEAWAYS Regardless of how formal your systems become, stay focused on the human connection.  Protect what makes your culture unique; growth and structure don’t erase the personal touch.  Define roles and trust them, collaborations don’t mean everyone decides everything.  Hire people who align with your values, not just job descriptions.  Transitioning leadership takes intention, patience, and trust.    RESOURCES Connect with John Abrams LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/john-abrams-3bb94683/  Website - abramsangell.com/    From Founder to Future: A Business Roadmap to Impact, Longevity, and Employee Ownership By John Abrams amazon.com/Founder-Future-Business-Longevity-Ownership/dp/1523006811    90-Day High-Performance Dashboard You can't afford to let your people drift. To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.   Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to: Get clear on what matters most. Drive focused action and accountability. Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.   Success doesn't happen by accident. It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency. Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.     Resources to Help You Win in Construction 📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/ 🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com ☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let’s connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me 🎧 Subscribe & Share If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!  

In today’s episode of Construction Genius, we dive deep into a powerful leadership framework that can transform how you run your construction projects — the Fighter Pilot Mindset based on John Boyd’s legendary OODA loop. In fast-paced, high-risk environments — whether it’s a fighter jet or a complex construction site — the speed and quality of your team’s decision-making can make or break project outcomes.   Yet many construction leaders today face persistent challenges: ✅ Bridging the gap between office leadership and field crews ✅ Balancing safety and productivity under constant schedule pressure ✅ Driving real-time decision-making on job sites that are always changing ✅ Building a job site culture where workers are empowered — not micromanaged ✅ Improving communication between leadership and the front line That’s where the OODA loop — Observe, Orient, Decide, Act — comes in. Originally designed for fighter pilots in life-or-death combat, this mental model helps leaders and crews think faster and act smarter — without sacrificing safety. My guest today is Stokes McIntyre, CEO of MindForge, who brings a unique background in both film production and construction technology. Stokes is passionate about helping construction leaders apply OODA loop thinking to close the field-office communication gap and create job sites where safety and speed reinforce each other — not compete.   RESOURCES Website - mindforgeapp.com   LinkedIn Handle - linkedin.com/in/stokesmcintyre/  Insta -  instagram.com/mindforgellc/   X - x.com/MindForge   Facebook - facebook.com/mindforgeinc  Company LinkedIn - linkedin.com/company/mindforgellc  Restaurant Recommendation - giuseppesritrovo.com/

The construction industry is currently at a significant juncture where the industry’s traditional practices begin to converge with new cutting-edge technologies like Artificial Intelligence. AI helps teams to uncover insights, streamline operations, and improve decision-making, making it an emerging powerful partner rather than a tool. Trevor Schick is the CEO of Slate Technologies, a company revolutionizing the construction industry through AI-driven decision support tools. He brings a unique perspective to the industry’s technological space, having a career leading global supply chains at major high-tech companies like Apple, Hewlett-Packard, and Motorola. About a decade ago, he started applying lessons about materials and logistics from high-tech industries to the world of construction. He became the CEO of Slate Technologies after initially working with them as a customer. He joined us today to talk about how AI is redefining the possibilities in construction by enhancing safety, minimizing delays, and unlocking the importance of hidden data. HIGHLIGHTS [01:29] Trevor’s background in the construction industry.  [03:13] Cultural differences at HP, Motorola, and Apple.  [07:23] The potential of off-site construction and supply chain innovation.  [09:11] AI’s role in safety, progress reporting, and linking data in construction.  [13:18] The importance of data quality for AI implementation.  [17:31] Automatic insights and solutions. [18:56] Perona-based AI tools.  [22:11] The benefits of adapting to user perspectives.  [25:50] AI’s impact on pre-construction and scheduling.  [29:22] The importance of AI in centralizing data, reducing time spent, and project estimations.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Explore off-site construction and speed up project timelines. Use AI-powered cameras to proactively identify on-site safety risks.  Provide clean, structured data to ensure your AI tools deliver accurate insights. Capture and apply lessons learned from past projects using AI.  Use human feedback to train and improve AI’s problem-solving over time.  Encourage your team to see AI as a collaborative partner, not a tool.    RESOURCES   Connect with Trevor Schick LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/trevor-schick-97620b9/  Wensite - slate.ai  YouTube - youtube.com/@SlateTechnologies  Restaurant Recommendation - jeffreysofaustin.com/      90-Day High-Performance Dashboard You can't afford to let your people drift. To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.   Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to: Get clear on what matters most. Drive focused action and accountability. Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.   Success doesn't happen by accident. It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency. Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.     Resources to Help You Win in Construction 📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/ 🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com ☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let’s connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me 🎧 Subscribe & Share If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!  

Dan Lester, Vice President of Field Culture and Inclusion at Clayco, brings a powerful voice to the conversation around mental health in the construction industry. Focusing on total health and well-being, Dan emphasizes that mental health is about managing everyday and extreme stress.  Dan shares findings from a 2024 Clayco study showing that 54% of tradespeople reported anxiety or depression in the past year, yet many still feel ashamed to talk about it. Dan attributes this to stigma, pride, and the male-dominated nature of the industry. He stresses the importance of psychological safety and creating spaces where vulnerability is welcomed.  Through practical initiatives like wellness zones, mandatory fatigue days, and leadership modeling, Dan advocates for a cultural shift in the industry. His message is clear: mental health matters and proactive support can save lives and improve job performance!   HIGHLIGHTS [03:22] Mental Health Awareness in Construction  [10:58] Impact of Mental Health on Job Performance  [15:15] Effective Communication and Support  [36:36] Leadership and Cultural Change  [44:51] Practical Steps for Companies   KEY TAKEAWAYS Be vocal and visible about mental health—leaders should model openness and vulnerability. Set up wellness zones and encourage psychological safety on job sites. Promote tools like Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), Man Therapy, and the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention. To raise awareness, offer training sessions, job site tours, and mental health presentations. Confidentially support and follow up with individuals who seek help—build a culture of trust and care.   RESOURCES   Connect with Dan Lester: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danflester/ Website: claycorp.com/   Clayco’s Report on Mental Health: https://claycorp.com/latest/breaking-the-silence-mental-health-and-support-issues-in-the-construction-industry https://PreventConstructionSuicide.com https://ManTherapy.org   90-Day High-Performance Dashboard You can't afford to let your people drift. To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.   Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to: Get clear on what matters most. Drive focused action and accountability. Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.   Success doesn't happen by accident. It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency. Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.     Resources to Help You Win in Construction 📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/ 🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com ☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let’s connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me 🎧 Subscribe & Share If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!  

If you’re serious about winning more work, building trust with clients, and leading your sales team with confidence, let’s talk. I’m offering a free 10-minute call to help you pinpoint exactly where your sales process is breaking down—and what to do about it. 👉 Book your 10-minute call here: https://10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me/ Don’t wait for the phone to ring. Let’s get proactive, strategic, and focused on what actually works in construction sales. Winning negotiated projects in construction isn’t about cutting into your profit; it’s about cultivating trust, clear communication, and placing yourself as the partner of choice. The shift from estimation to strategic selling is essential in contexts where relationships, consistency, and confidence are important. Success comes with recognizing the right moments to connect with decision-makers, tapping into your team’s capabilities, and advocating for what you need with confidence, proving that you possess qualities beyond just being a contractor but a trusted partner who brings solutions and lasting value to the table.   In this week’s solo episode, Eric explains how to win negotiated projects without competing on price. From overcoming the reluctance to call to prospecting expertly, leveraging team selling, and conquering reciprocal exchange, Eric breaks down the behaviors and mindset shifts that make high-performing builders stand out. Join Eric if you are ready to start winning work by leading with value, confidence, and connection.  HIGHLIGHTS [01:53] Prospecting and closing in construction. [03:18] Overcoming the reluctance to call.  [05:11] Alignment, commitment, and consistent effort. [08:05] Dealing with ghosting in sales.  [12:22] Proactive vs. reactive approach in sales.  [15:05] The psychology of reciprocity.  [17:00] Actionable steps to improve the sales experience.    What You’ll Learn: Why price isn’t the reason you’re losing negotiated bids The 5 critical sales behaviors every construction professional must master How to overcome call reluctance and become a proactive prospector The power of quid pro quo and the psychology of reciprocation Why “Kings talk to Kings” is a sales mindset game-changer  How to align your internal team for effective, team-based selling RESOURCES Construction Genius Book (Chapters 11 & 12 on Sales & Marketing): https://a.co/d/hNZ3sxV Schedule a quick call with Eric and discover how he can help you sell successfully: https://10minuteswitheric.youcanbook.me/   Resources to Help You Win in Construction 📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/ 🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com ☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let’s connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me 🎧 Subscribe & Share If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!

As in any other industry, artificial intelligence is becoming a vital tool in construction, reforming how projects are designed, planned, and executed. It can help construction companies with critical challenges like skilled labor shortages by empowering junior employees with expert knowledge ingrained in digital tools. As the industry evolves, AI stands out as a practical, approachable tool that delivers efficiency and innovation. However, it’s important to note that AI is not a ‘know-all’ but rather a tool that continues to evolve and improve over time through user feedback and experience.  Meet the co-founder and CEO of Augmenta, Francesco Iorio, a company on a mission to empower the construction industry to design buildings more efficiently and at a lower cost, enabling a future of sustainable buildings, cities, and infrastructure. Before Augmenta, Iorio served as Director of Computational Science Research at Autodesk, where he led a group of researchers and engineers in exploring state-of-the-art computational science projects that pioneered modern generative design. Previously, Iorio was a solution architect for next-generation computing systems at the IBM High Performance Computing Group in Dublin, Ireland. In this role, Iorio focused on accelerating financial, engineering, and digital media workloads using hybrid high-performance computing platforms. HIGHLIGHTS [00:51] The role of AI-powered tools in mitigating the skilled labor shortage.  [04:15] The process of gathering knowledge for AI tools.  [08:44] Augmenta’s approach to designing intelligence and constructability.  [13:31] The relationship between user skills and the effectiveness of AI tools.  [19:15] Removing the mystique around AI.  [21:55] Francesco’s background in computer science and  [24:17] Sustainable building practices and reducing material waste.  [27:26] Democratizing building performance.  [29:30] Augmenta’s role in the future of construction.  [35:13] Advice for construction leaders.    KEY TAKEAWAYS Position AI as an attractant for new talent.  See to it that skilled tradespeople actively review AI-generated outputs.  Consider AI as not ‘all knowing’ but ‘students’ who listen, learn, and adapt.  Encourage iterative use. Pose a challenge to the responses of AI.  Involve senior staff during the AI adoption phase and use the tool as a bridge for junior employees.  Point out the power of real user stories in breaking down skepticism.  Present AI as the next step in progress instead of a disruptive leap.    RESOURCES Connect with Francesco Iorio LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/francescoiorio/  Website - augmenta.ai/  Toronto, Canada restaurant recommendation: terroni.com/    90-Day High-Performance Dashboard You can't afford to let your people drift. To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.   Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to: Get clear on what matters most. Drive focused action and accountability. Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.   Success doesn't happen by accident. It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency. Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.     Resources to Help You Win in Construction 📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/ 🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com ☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let’s connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me 🎧 Subscribe & Share If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!

Family business succession is not just about changing the leadership; it’s a delicate balancing act between maintaining the legacy and embracing innovation. Both founders and successors face the challenges of navigating deep personal attachments, generational differences, and the emotional weight of letting go and stepping up. A genuine succession requires more than a solid plan: it demands trust, humility, and the discipline to lead by example.  Joining us today is Dimitri Sidiropoulos. Dimitri is a son, husband, father of three, and a second-generation leader in the construction industry. At Delphi, a company specializing in heavy mechanical infrastructure work, Dimitri plays a key role in leading the team to continue building on a legacy of quality and innovation. Dimitri's primary focus is on team building, business development, and cultivating a strong company culture. Dedicated to creating an environment where collaboration, continuous growth, and mutual respect are prioritized, Dimitri works to ensure that every team member has the resources and support needed to succeed. Throughout the conversation, Dimitri and I discussed the following topics about the strategic art of family business succession: myths of a family business, maintaining high standards, creating space for further employee advancements, expecting and handling conflict in a family business, succession planning: legacy vs. innovation, the shift from doing to leading, leading by example, and the importance of maintaining open communication with employees.  HIGHLIGHTS [02:01] Myths of family business.  [06:29] The importance of maintaining high standards.  [14:05] Building long-term client relationships with personal connections.  [16:07] Handling conflicts in a family business.  [21:28] Succession Planning: Leading with curiosity and trust.  [30:20] Dimitri’s succession plan and the development of future leaders.  [38:59] Leading by example and personal growth.  [41:32] Visiting job sites and maintaining an open communication with employees.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Build a growth culture, not just a growth plan.  Go beyond the contract. Position your team as problem-solvers and collaborators.  Expect conflict. Step back when needed, cool down, and revisit the conversation later. Respect experience. Learn the lesson before you dismiss them.  Expect the discomforts in transition and embrace them as parts of growth.    RESOURCES Connect with Dimitri Sidiropoulos LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/in/dimitri-sidiropoulos-b4485190/                      https://linkedin.com/company/delphiph/  Website Copy - https://delphiph.com/      90-Day High-Performance Dashboard You can't afford to let your people drift. To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.   Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to: Get clear on what matters most. Drive focused action and accountability. Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.   Success doesn't happen by accident. It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency. Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.     Resources to Help You Win in Construction 📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/ 🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com ☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let’s connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me 🎧 Subscribe & Share If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!    

Today, Eric explores the essential shift in leadership from the outdated command-and-control style to a coaching-focused approach. Eric addresses common leadership myths, emphasizes the power of trust, and outlines practical frameworks for effective coaching conversations. He highlights tools like the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to help leaders set goals, track progress, and foster accountability. With actionable advice on asking the right questions and creating a supportive culture, Eric equips leaders to build stronger teams and achieve long-term success. He closes with a call to embrace coaching as the key to thriving in today's competitive landscape. HIGHLIGHTS [00:46] Leadership Shift from Command and Control to Coaching  [03:50] Five Lies Successful Leaders Tell Themselves [07:47] Practical Coaching Frameworks [09:47] Effective Coaching Questions [17:34] 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard   KEY TAKEAWAYS Focus on coaching, not controlling. Use open-ended questions like "What's your biggest challenge?" Hold coaching talks midweek, late morning, distraction-free. Set clear goals, track progress, and build accountability. Help your team grow instead of being the sole problem-solver.   Mentioned in the episode: 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard You can't afford to let your people drift. To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.   Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to: Get clear on what matters most. Drive focused action and accountability. Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.   Success doesn't happen by accident. It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency. Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.     Resources to Help You Win in Construction 📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/ 🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com ☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let’s connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me 🎧 Subscribe & Share If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!  

What is the greatest remark in your leadership? Is it what you’ve left behind, or is it what you’ve built? Brad DesJardin, retired president of DesCor Builders, joins today’s episode to explore a succession system that works, embedded with values, clarity, and trust. Through the lens of the construction industry, we discuss how to create a lasting impact by planning with purpose, raising the right people, and letting go at the right time. Whether you are a founder thinking about taking the next step or a leader stepping into a bigger role, join us and listen as a reminder; legacy isn’t about holding on, it’s about preparing and witnessing others thrive without you.   HIGHLIGHTS [01:50] The biggest challenge of stepping away from a business.  [04:45] Life as a series of assignments. [06:20] Values, attracting talent, and retaining talent.  [08:23] The importance of accountability.  [10:50] An early succession plan.  [14:12] Seasons of life and risk evaluations with younger generations.  [16:30] The source of camaraderie in a healthy construction company.   [20:30] Hiring with leadership potential in mind.  [25:00] The importance of partnership.  [30:24] Witnessing the evolution of your values through others.  [34:08] Identity beyond titles.  [42:06] The importance of letting go of ego and respecting the new leaders. [47:07] Advice for exiting business owners in construction.    KEY TAKEAWAYS Know when to pass the torch, think what’s best for the company. Create space for rising talent. The passion and energy of young people are often the missing ingredients.  Clarify your core values, know what you stand for.  Recognize the full circle of support because employees’ home life affects their work life.   Let your values live beyond you, make them seen and felt.  Let go of the need for external validation for a decision rooted in purpose.  Find joy and take pride in others’ success.    RESOURCES:   Connect with Brad DesJardin LinkedIn – https://linkedin.com/in/brad-desjardin-533b60235/  Website - https://descorbuilders.com/    Restaurant Josephine, CA https://josephineauburn.com/      Resources to Help You Win in Construction 📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/ 🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com ☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let’s connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me 🎧 Subscribe & Share If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!