Once a people manager becomes the master of their own emotions, they must learn to recognize the emotional state of others and be strategic about intentionally eliciting the ideal emotions...

Take ownership of failure in your own mind but fail to do so publicly. Bosses often get away with pretending a failure never happened and emitting nonverbal signals that a topic is off limits...

... many construction firm owners are reluctant to be fully trusting and transparent with their workforce—particularly when it comes to finances.

As small contractors grow into mid-sized ones, to me this is the most important time to create at least some dedicated estimating staff.... you must either have estimators who enjoy developing relationships...

The best thing to do when you get invited to bid a project by someone you don’t know is simple. Get to know them.

“You’re not low” is such an easy thing to say, and the rewards are tangible. Thousands, even millions of dollars of value in negotiations are secured by savvy construction buyers every day with this one tactic.

Companies prioritizing employee satisfaction see a ripple effect: happy workers lead to satisfied clients…

Getting help should not be an option. Great teams win together. We love our top performers, and there’s nothing that will stop them from pursuing a higher level of performance from themselves…

What these contractors must realize, however, is that the resentment they feel toward their customers is not helping them to prosper. Instead, the sour feelings they carry into the project translate into…

…setting clear goals and gaining an objective view of your business’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats can help you protect and grow your business despite inevitable challenges.

I’ve found that firms that follow four simple rules can capitalize on the ever-changing business environment rather than being victimized by it…

Read the first chapter of my new book, Well Built!

From my experience, the risks and discomfort of maintaining the status quo often outweigh those of pursuing positive change. Moreover, choosing not to improve can erode the sense of accomplishment and pride…

When your business embodies your values, your culture will drive project success and cultivate a sense of purpose, achievement, and growth among your employees…

Just as no building can stand without a solid foundation, nothing you do as a construction company matters as much as your ability to produce a project…

Even a master relationship builder cannot effectively mask his inability to understand critical business metrics and use them to manage projects. This weakness is not something that can be shrugged off…

If you’re a GC/CM, navigating the owner’s decision-making team can range in complexity. Question and discern the data you gather to identify all of the players and their various roles…

My experience tells me a company can thrive regardless of the skills that the Chief Executive brings to the table…

You cannot stop a storm from coming. Business, like nature, can be an unstoppable force, bringing conditions you must learn to adapt to and live with. Economic conditions, new technologies, workforce shortages, and more are realities you must adjust to and accept…