Blog
Throwing Mashed Potatoes at Them is Not the Answer
This Thanksgiving it is possible someone will make a comment about something other than the football game or the quality of the pumpkin pie. Maybe even the recent election. This could be challenging. We are living in highly polarized times, and even the most skillful...
Unchecked Seniority: The Greatest Safety Hazard in Construction?
The best and safest construction companies are religious about naming and reducing safety hazards. Every day they talk about traffic, pinch points, confined space, overhead dangers, electricity, etc. How often do they name seniority as a potential hazard? Probably...
The Distinction Between Coaching and Training
What is the difference between training and coaching? And I want to credit Dean Hyers, co-founder of Sage Presence, whose knowledge and skill always brings a great perspective to our conversations. Training teaches specific skills leaders need to learn, focusing on...
How Navy SEALS Achieve Awesome Results
Leaders who are confident and humble can learn to do something exceptional, something that will attract younger workers, and will contribute to fewer injuries. What is it? They can do what the Navy SEALS do. They can learn to flex between communicating in traditional...
Why is Empathy So Hard to Get Right? Especially for Men
Empathy is perceived, especially in tough guy-tough gal cultures, as a sign of weakness. Empathy is not often co-related with strong business results, particularly in construction, engineering, project management, manufacturing and other hard-nosed places. But we now...
Feeling Brave This Thanksgiving?
This Thanksgiving you will likely be with family and/or friends to enjoy a meal. When you do there will probably be a conversation. If your tribe is able to talk about politics or world issues there may be strong feelings expressed if you are brave enough to go into...
Tips for powerful conversations
Have you ever had to speak to someone who has more rank than you do, about a delicate topic? Just imagining doing this is frightening to most of us. In order to grow your capacity at home and at work, and to resolve issues, there are times you will need to do this....
When You See Something Say Nothing
One of the common communication problems in construction involves the problem of workers getting quiet at the wrong time. Those with lower rank are often reluctant to speak up, especially when it comes to safety. Most have heard the safety leader or the boss say...
How are you using your status, especially after a mess up?
Have you ever had a work situation where someone’s rank changed substantially, or someone messed up? How did those involved handle that situation? Did everyone impacted use their status in a way that contributed to the good of the company? Or did some people act...
Joy in the Midst of Hardship
The Grinch had taken everything, all their floofloovers all their tartookas. He snatched every whohooper and gardooka. He stole the roast beast. He left nothing, not even a crumb for that mouse. Then he horsewhipped poor Max his dog, and that giant sled of toys, up...
