We work in an industry where conflict is common. Our project team regularly works with owners, developers, architects, engineers, subcontractors and more. These contributors are all advocating for different phases of the project and goals. The good news is, we have a common vision. We might just have different thoughts on how to get there. …
Back in 2000, I read a book called “The Tipping Point” by Malcolm Gladwell. You can get an overview here, but the basic concept is that, “ideas and products and messages and behaviors spread like viruses do.” He goes on to describe the agents of change that drive these shifts. Like many, the book resonated …
Marketing can feel like an easy line item to skip, or in times when the project list isn’t full, cut. My gut has always told me that marketing needs to have a core spot in our business, and a recent article I came across in Harvard Business Review gave me the research to back it …
I recently read an interesting article from the Wall Street Journal on feedback response, or the anxiety and sometimes visceral response some experience during performance reviews. It seems several major companies are considering changes in this process in the hopes of making the experience more constructive, retaining talent in the process. Some chose to rebrand …
We’ve all been on the receiving end of written communication that can be interpreted as condescending, making us feel disrespected. Often, the communication intensifies the original problem, the opposite of the desired effect. Perhaps the sender’s attempts at being direct and straightforward were misinterpreted, or maybe they were in a hurry and didn’t consider the …
I recently heard a smart rule for making the decision of how to communicate: Use email primarily for notifications where emotions will be low. Save the discussions for two-way communication like a call, or better yet, a face-to-face meeting. While it may take a little more planning on the front end, this allows for instant responses back and …
Years ago, one of my mentors shared something that stuck: “You only have one chance to get it right the first time.” It’s interesting how often I have repeated this comment over the years, to people on our team and beyond. To me, this advice was even more poignant when we were first getting started …
No one does research quite like Google. I recently read an article about the company’s thorough approach to discovering the traits that make managers great. They started on a mission to find the algorithm for a better boss back in 2009, implementing their findings into the hiring process three years later. They now have more …
After experiencing two years of record price increases, material shortages and a scarce workforce, it seems that things are getting a bit better, at least with the availability of talent. I’m not sure if it was the end of stimulus and relief checks, or a more complicated mix of factors, but it seems like folks …
How do you hire the right group to build your project? In many ways, it’s like any other major purchase decision. Price, financial stability and reputation are always a factor. Beyond these basics, to me, there are two things that prospective buyers of construction services sometimes overlook: Culture. Does the contractor’s general approach to business …
When it’s time to bring on additions to our management group, the person we hire often depends on the need. It might be a highly experienced and specialized candidate, or it could be one who shows more raw talent, street smarts and desire. We’ve learned that going with the most experienced candidate generally has the …
Over our decades in business, I’ve learned a thing or two about business models, especially in regards to the best approach to project sizes being a fit. I recently explained it like this: We build $40-50 million dollar projects and also the $1 million and up projects. They all work in unison, being somewhat like …