The Real Work of Leading in Construction

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Building trust, culture + people By Kurt Zuegel Ask anyone who’s spent real time in construction what the job demands, and you’ll get some familiar answers. Fast decisions. Clear communication. Problem-solving on the fly. Keeping schedules moving, trades aligned, clients informed. But here’s what doesn’t get said enough: if you want to lead a team that can actually handle all that, you’d better be building more than just buildings. You need to be building trust, building culture and building people.In the field, leadership develops over time. It’s not about control. It’s about consistency. It’s about showing up in a way … Read more

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Developing Adaptability, Well-Roundedness: How Seasoned Superintendents Can Help

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By Barry Thomas We all have our professional comfort zones. We can thrive in these safe havens because we’re able to settle in and perform competently with relative ease, all things considered. That said, our willingness to engage unfamiliar experiences, acquire new skills and develop new areas of knowledge and expertise is part of ongoing professional development. For younger superintendents — and the seasoned superintendents who work with them and support their long-term career success — this is worth reminding ourselves. Today’s competitive marketplace and the demand for multi-faceted leaders invite us to think more purposefully about supporting junior superintendents … Read more

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Leadership Skills: Promoting Teamwork, Productivity

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By Brian Hook Back in the day, construction sites were no place for the thin-skinned, and not just because of the extreme weather swings in locations like the Upper Midwest or the Southwest. If work was falling behind or somebody had messed up, a superintendent often would just yell, and then everybody would suck it up and get to work. So-called “soft skills” were out of step with the gritty reality of field work. Times have changed, however, and if your field team hasn’t yet honed those leadership skills relating to emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, teamwork and effective communication, it’s … Read more

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