There is a big difference between getting into construction and growing into leadership. A lot of people enter this industry thinking the path is simple. Show up. Work hard. Keep your head down. Learn your trade. Put in your time. Eventually, leadership will come. That sounds good, but that is not the whole truth. The […]
There is something that has long bothered me about leadership training in construction. A lot of it sounds good. It looks polished. It checks the box. It gives people something to put on a calendar, something to mention in a meeting, and something to say they invested in. But too often, once that training leaves […]
Everybody says they want better field leaders. But on real jobsites, we often do very little to truly develop them. We promote a good mechanic. We hand them more responsibility. We expect them to run the work, manage people, communicate with office staff, solve problems, deal with conflict, stay on schedule, maintain quality, and somehow […]
The Problem Beneath the Partnership Too many Workforce Development (WFD) partnerships begin with great intentions and end with quiet disappointment. Companies show up to a job fair or mock interview day, collect resumes, and shake hands. However, nothing sticks, and trainees go home wondering if it was real. Leaders go back to the office saying, […]
When the Game Is Rigged and You Don’t Even Know You’re Playing Let’s be real: if you’re a young Black man in America, you didn’t get a fair start. You were born into a game that was designed long before you ever took your first breath—a game with rules you were never taught, penalties you […]
Amber Czech was 20 years old, a welder in Minnesota who loved her job and was proud of the trade she chose. She went to work, stepped into her routine, and never made it home. According to reports, a 40-year-old male coworker first walked away from his own workstation. Then, he picked up a sledgehammer […]
The Brutal Truth (Said with Respect) Most construction companies talk about “developing leaders.” Few have a repeatable system to do it. We promote high-performing craftworkers into foreperson or superintendent roles and then expect them to instantly develop people skills, planning habits, and the ability to manage risk, people, and production. However, when results fall short, […]
The Brutal Truth—and the Opportunity Let’s level with each other. If you scan most jobsites in America, you won’t see many Black men leading crews, running scopes, or stepping into foreman and superintendent roles. That isn’t because talent is missing. It’s because pathways are blocked, cultures are uneven, and the habits that produce equitable results […]
Our Call to Action: The construction industry faces a critical shortage of effective leaders, necessitating immediate attention and targeted interventions. The construction industry faces a critical shortage of effective leaders, necessitating immediate attention and targeted interventions. Several factors contribute to this leadership gap, including: Limited availability of construction leadership training programs. Insufficient emphasis on leadership […]
In this post, we will explore the undeniable value that training programs can bring to any company, dispelling doubt, encouraging a progressive mindset, and the significant impact training can have on mental health, fostering a resilient and high-performing team. Embracing the Power of Training : A Blueprint for Success In the fast-paced world of construction, […]
