Ep.1426 - The 12 Causes of Project Failure

This episode gets real about why good delivery models go bad. Jason breaks down the traps that derail IPD, Design-Build, and CM at Risk, and shows how systems thinking, flow, and true collaboration keep projects on track. Key points: The “competitive design proposal” trap burns millions and cannibalizes unpaid design. Phased design without a full kit leads to rework: missing sleeves, embeds, blue bangers, and chaos. If it violates Goldratt’s Rules of Flow, it will fail no matter the contract wrapper. Deming’s lesson: we fail despite best efforts when we don’t think in systems. Stop sub-optimizing and start collaborating across teams, trades, and tech. Update your playbooks continuously instead of treating methods as frozen versions. If you want delivery models that actually deliver, build the system first, protect flow, and make collaboration non-negotiable. 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 why great systems fail in the field and how to make them stick. Using a simple glucose and insulin analogy, he shows that tools and manuals (value) only work when teams are ready and structured to receive them. You’ll also hear a quick reveal of the new one-day Builder Huddle designed to ignite real implementation across entire cities. Key points: Implementation lives in the socio-technical side, not just the technical. The “three of three” pattern to make change land. Plan with First Planner, Takt Production, Last Planner. Scale with a clear operating system, company-wide training, monthly field walks. Switch by making it clear, making people want it, and clearing their path. Without master builders to receive the value, even the best system stalls. Builder Huddle: a high-energy, practical day to turn concepts into next-day habits. If you want your teams executing instead of admiring the plan, this episode gives you the checklist and the charge to make it real.   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 tackles a tough truth: our industry has quietly stopped training. Core builder skills are disappearing and it’s costing us. Drawing lessons from Japanese craftsmanship, U.S. military history, and decades of field experience, Jason makes the case that training is not optional it’s survival. Just like Japan rebuilds its temples every 20 years to preserve skill, we must continually rebuild our workforce to preserve the craft of building. Key Points: How technology has replaced not supported builder skills. Why the silence of older generations cost us vital knowledge. The impact of rapid scaling without matching training systems. Why field engineering must remain a cornerstone skill. A vision for mass-producing master builders to rebuild America. If you’ve ever wondered why projects feel harder to staff with skilled leaders, this episode will open your eyes and point to a way forward. 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 shares a real-world story from the road to the Super PM Bootcamp in Dallas and the powerful lesson it revealed: being prepared creates freedom. By handling the small details in advance, you clear space for innovation, calm, and focus. Instead of fighting fires, you get to lead. Key Takeaways: Preparation eliminates chaos and stress. Buffers protect you from last-minute crises. Clean, organized systems multiply performance. Taking care of details frees you to innovate and improve. If you want projects and life to flow smoother, start by getting the details right.   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

PM and Superintendent are not rivals. They are a duo. In this fast moving conversation with third generation builder Nic Parish we tackle the real friction and the fixes that actually work in the field. What this episode gives you: A simple model for PM brings the pieces and the Super puts them together. The mantra see the future and feed the project. Daily five minute touchpoints and weekly lunch to build trust. Visual systems on the wall so nothing lives in someone’s head. One rule for culture all problems are team problems. How to stop the office versus field blame loop. Practical cues for procurement logs delivery plans and look aheads that actually connect. Nic brings stories from 45 years of civil and trucking experience. Jason maps those lessons to clear plays you can run tomorrow. If you want fewer firefights and more flow this one is for you. Tune in and level up your PM Super partnership today. 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

Logistics is more than deliveries, it’s the hidden engine that keeps projects moving smoothly. In this high-energy conversation with Mark Story, we break down why logistics planning can make or break a job. From mega-projects to tight urban sites, the principles stay the same: plan ahead, keep it simple, and always think with the end in mind. What you’ll learn in this episode: The golden rules of logistics every superintendent should know. Why logistics plans must evolve as your project changes. How to scale logistics for small jobs versus massive builds. The role of truck drivers, routes, signage, and staging areas. How prefab, buffer zones, and laydown grids can speed up production. Mark shares real stories from buses colliding with pump trucks to truck drivers lost in congested campuses that prove why planning is non-negotiable. If you want to stop putting out fires and start running smooth, predictable projects, this episode is for you. 👉 Tune in now and take your logistics game to the next level. 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

Micromanagement gets blamed for everything. Jason pulls apart the viral advice and shows when close guidance is actually teaching, how capability and team stage change what leaders must do, and why meetings and details aren’t the enemy. It’s a frank reset on accountability, trust, and what real leadership looks like on the job. When close guidance is right: explain, demonstrate, guide, enable. Forming and storming need more check-ins so work can move in short cycles. Meetings are the work when teams are not side-by-side. Details matter: tighten quality where it protects brand, clients, and safety. Never okay: stealing ideas or hogging credit. The better response: communicate, shorten iterations, build trust, and raise your own quality bar. If you lead people, this episode gives you a clearer lens and practical moves you can use today.  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

Projects rarely go wrong. They start wrong. In this punchy breakdown, Jason spotlights Adam Beanie’s framework and ties it to the builder’s code Never yield ground so you can protect finished work, keep control, and deliver. The big miss: inadequate planning and starting before you’re ready. Leadership alignment: PM and superintendent in lockstep or the job suffers. Scope change creep: why phased design spins teams out and how to stop it. Scheduling truth: CPM confusion vs the rhythm and flow of Takt. Team capability: put the right people on the bus and skill them up. Incentives: how contracts drive behavior and how to align them. Risk and information: continuous risk scanning and real time updates to the field. Clear. Applicable. Field ready. Press play, level up your next kickoff, and hold the ground you’ve earned. 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

Quick, energetic recap from Salt Lake City plus a listener question that turns into rapid fire, practical guidance on what actually works on site. Where AI saves time today: takeoffs, RFIs, submittal registers, meeting notes, and when to still write key items by hand. Tools that matter now: ChatGPT for writing and notes, plus purpose built platforms for estimating, reality capture, and schedule insight. First Planner vs Takt vs Last Planner what each system is for and how they fit together. Roadblocks vs constraints, why over prioritizing backfires and how to visualize and clear the path fast. What is coming next: General Superintendent book progress, Takt update, student video series, and the one day Builder Huddle.   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

Recordables are down across the industry, yet fatalities have not moved. In this episode, Highwire Chief Safety Officer David Tibbetts shows how to stop chasing TRIR and start preventing serious injury and fatality by focusing on the work that can change a life in a single moment. • What SIF really means: life ending, life threatening, and life altering. • Why TRIR alone can mislead and how to pair it with exposure tracking. • How to make pretask plans actually useful by centering high risk tasks and critical controls. • Where to invest limited energy and attention so crews stay safe for real. • Fast moves for this week daily SIF scan, top three risks in huddles, verify controls before start, log SIF potential events. If you lead people on a job, this gives you a clear, exposure focused playbook you can apply today. Press play and send every worker home safe. 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