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How To Make A Safety Plan For Construction

Posted on by Nicolas M.

Intro & Summary

Creating a safety plan for a construction project is more than just fulfilling an obligation; it’s about making safety a meaningful part of your culture. In this blog post, we’ll explore how to make a safety plan that is not only effective but also impactful. We’ll break down the steps for developing safety plans at the company, project, and crew levels, ensuring safety remains a top priority at every stage of construction. 

How to Identify Your Company Standards for Safety

When crafting a safety plan for your company, the first step is to identify your company’s safety standards. Depending on where you operate, this could involve meeting OSHA requirements, local city codes, or even standards set by the owner or insurance carrier. Start by understanding the specific regulations that apply to you, but more importantly, define how you will implement these safety standards and decide which ones are most important to your company.

How to Provide Company Training for Safety

Once you’ve established your standards, company training is essential. You need to create a clear, easily accessible safety and health manual. Make sure it’s easy to read, bulleted, and serves as a quick reference for employees. Then, offer training tailored to your company’s expectations. This could be in the form of general training, specific checklists, posters, or procedures. The key is to decide how you want to implement safety and then train your team to follow it.

Importance of Follow-Ups, Check-Ins, and Safety Inspections

The next critical step is ensuring consistent follow-up. Regular safety inspections and check-ins are vital for maintaining a safe work environment. The best safety cultures, like the one I experienced working with Janet at DPR, integrate frequent safety walks and monthly inspections. 

These follow-ups ensure that safety standards are being maintained and give you the opportunity to address any issues as they arise. The goal is to create a culture where safety is taken seriously, and everyone understands their role in maintaining a safe workplace.

The Key to Implementing Safety in Construction

To successfully implement safety in construction, you need to focus on both beliefs and actions. A strong safety culture is built on clear communication, training, and consistent follow-up. By shaping beliefs through training and actions through field inspections, you can ensure safety becomes second nature to everyone on the team.

Importance of Including Safety Guidelines in Project Planning & Scheduling

When it comes to safety at the project level, the first step is ensuring your project planning and scheduling includes safety considerations. Every aspect of your planning—from logistics to work zones—should allocate time, resources, and methods for safe execution.

How to Create a Safety Plan for a Construction Project

Next, create a project-specific safety plan. This plan should focus on high-risk areas of the project and be tailored to the specific needs of the job. If you need an example, let me know in the comments. Your safety plan should address hazards, define safe practices, and ensure everyone on the site understands the procedures.

How to Design a Safety System & Signage Plan

Your logistics plan should also include a detailed safety system. Design your safety signage from the ground up so that every critical safety component is clearly identified and accessible. This includes emergency gathering areas, AED locations, emergency shutoff valves, and rescue equipment like crane lift baskets. Make sure these elements are planned and marked on your site map so everyone knows where to go in an emergency.

Important Safety Elements to Include When Designing Your System

When designing your safety system, identify your approach to safety on the project site. This includes deciding who will oversee safety, how training and orientation will be conducted, and how deviations from safety standards will be addressed. For instance, my approach is a zero-tolerance policy: safety violations are met with immediate action, ensuring everyone stays aligned with OSHA standards and project safety expectations.

How to Design Your Own Safety System in Construction

Whatever your method, make sure you have a consistent system in place that everyone follows. Train your team, include safety requirements in site orientation, and regularly reinforce these standards through meetings and check-ins. A consistent approach ensures that safety becomes ingrained in the project culture, reducing accidents and improving overall job site conditions.

How to Prepare for Safety on a Scope Basis with Your Crew

At the crew level, safety preparation involves clearly identifying tasks, outlining installation steps, and identifying potential hazards for each step. Implement mitigation measures, make sure everyone understands their role, and ensure the crew has the proper tools, training, and time to do the job safely.

Important Reminders When Implementing Safety in Construction

At all levels—whether company-wide, project-specific, or crew-focused—success in safety comes down to a few key principles:

  1. Set clear expectations.
  2. Ensure everyone understands these expectations in a visible and accessible way.
  3. Provide proper training.
  4. Follow up with field inspections to confirm adherence.

Finally, do not tolerate safety violations. Consistently uphold your standards to create a culture where safety is respected and followed. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to implementing a comprehensive safety plan for your construction projects.

Conclusion

Safety planning in construction is essential at every level. Whether for your company, project, or crew, building a strong safety culture involves clear standards, thorough training, regular follow-up, and consistent enforcement. By following these guidelines, you can turn safety from an obligation into a cornerstone of your project’s success.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go!

What Is One Piece Flow In Lean?

Posted on by Nicolas M.

Intro & Summary
What is one piece flow in Lean? If you adopt the concept of one piece flow in your life, it will literally change everything for you. So get ready to be at least twice as effective as you are today if you’re willing to implement this blog post. 

So what is one piece flow? What is this concept that J money is talking about? How can you start with one piece flow in your work and on your project, and what are the benefits? Well, we’re going to cover all that. So stay with us.

When we’re talking about one piece or one process, or one piece or one process flow, the first thing you’ve got to understand is what is the piece that is the key—you can’t do one piece flow, can’t do one process flow if you don’t know the piece. So I want you to imagine four rows of numbers from one to five, so 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, all the way over to the fourth column. 

Which one is faster? Doing a process 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and then the second process or doing process 1, 1, 1, 1, and then doing process 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 5, 5, 5? Right, which one is faster? Well, I’ll tell you what happened.

Before we came to this earth, God, angels, and whatever it is that existed beforehand, or nature or the universe, taught us that batching was faster—meaning the 1, 1, 1, 1. When we were born, the first thing the doctor told us when they slapped us on the backside to get us to breathe was that batching was faster.

 Elementary school, they taught us that. Middle school, they taught us that. High school and college, they told us that. When you moved out of the house, your parents taught you that. When you first got your job, your employer told you that batching was faster—everyone thinks that the 1, 1, 1, 1 is faster. But it’s not, most of the time. Well, the majority of the time.

Why One Piece Flow Is Faster Than Batching
Let me give you an example. Let’s say you’re reviewing a submittal. And that submittal requires you to study the drawings, then to review the submittal, then get a second set of eyes, then transmit that to the architect, and then do a page flip and make sure that you get your comments back. So what is faster?

Doing one submittal step 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or researching the drawings for 1, 2, 3, 4 on all of the step ones, and then doing the reviews, and then doing the second set of eyes, then transmitting it, then sending them all to the architect or the designers all at once—which one is faster? It is faster, in two main ways, for you to do one process or one piece, which is that submittal at a time.

Let me tell you why. First and foremost, that one submittal (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) gets delivered to the designers sooner, so now they can start. So now the rhythm has started sooner. The other thing is the overall process time is shorter for one process, one piece flow than it is for batching because when you batch something, you have mental context switching, additional motion, movement, or transportation. 

This is absolutely key for us in construction. If you’re doing a submittal, do it one at a time. If you’re hosting a meeting, do one at a time. Plan it, do the meeting, finish the meeting one at a time. If you’re doing a task, do it one at a time. Everything you do needs to be done with as little distraction as possible, one piece or one process at a time if you want to save time and be fully effective.

Fun Example To Understand One Piece Flow
In fact, if you want something fun, right, I am going to suggest a game. If you want any additional clarification or want this specific game, just mention this in the comments of this blog post. I will respond back to you personally—me, myself, not an assistant. Okay, but if you want to have some fun with this, get 20 pieces of paper, 20 envelopes, and 20 stamps. 

Put them in a pile, and then get another set of 20 pieces of paper, 20 envelopes, and 20 stamps, and put them in another pile. Time yourself: in the first pile, go fold all the papers all at once, then go stuff them all at once. Then go ahead and lick (which is super gross) all of these envelopes all at once, then put the stamp on them all at once and time yourself.

If you then want to look at one piece or one process flow, go take one piece of paper, fold it, stuff it in the envelope, lick it (which again is still super gross, it’s just you get to do them at separate times), and then put a stamp on it, and then go to the next one, and then the next one, and time yourself. Every time you do it, if you’re going the same speed, the one piece or one process flow will be faster, and you will have a visual of what I’m talking about. It’s a really great game that you can play anywhere. 

In fact, I love this so much that I’m going to link you to three videos. One of the videos shows one piece flow. The other one shows the concept of large batch versus small batch. The third one shows the envelope game that I just described. But I highly recommend you try it out, especially if you want to have some fun or you’re presenting in front of a group.

How To Improve Efficiency & Productivity By Following A One Piece Flow
One story that I’d like to tell you before I move on: there’s a story of us, and that story of us is really the story of you liking and subscribing to this blog and commenting whenever you need something. Our story is one of continuous learning, continuous improvement, and engagement, where you get what you need continually in your role—the support that you want, the support you deserve.

But really, in all seriousness, there’s another story that I want to tell you about where we went to a company that was having difficulty completing their inspections on time. They were working, on average, about two and a half hours late every day, and they were about 40 inspection reports behind. 

What we found out was the team would go do an inspection, and then not do the paperwork. They moved that to the end of the day, then did another one, another one, another one. They would go do four inspections, and they would batch all of the reports at the end of the day. What they didn’t know was that every time they did that, they added 15 minutes to 45 minutes of context switching for each of those delayed activities because they didn’t finish it one at a time.

So we suggested to them: Hey, you’re 40 reports behind, and every person is working an average of two and a half hours late. This is what we recommend: go do the inspection, do the documentation immediately, finish it, transmit it, and then go to the next project. They went from being able to do four inspections a day, working two and a half hours late each per person and being 40 inspection reports behind, to now being able to do five total inspections a day in the proper timeframe, being able to go home to their families with zero inspections behind. 

This is the power of one piece flow, one process flow, because when you move something to the end of the day and don’t finish it right away, you’ve added 15 to 45 minutes. You are probably seeing two to four hours of waste, if not two to six hours of waste, every day from batching and context switching. We must get into the concept of one piece, one process flow.

How To Practice One Piece Flow In Construction
Alright, so here are some practical examples. When you do something, do it one at a time. When we are working on a construction project, the way we work in one piece or one process flow is by zone. The zone is your piece, the zone is your process or the process within that zone. 

So your trade partners get to learn this mindset: we are going to plan the work in that zone, we are going to build the work in that zone right the first time, and we are going to finish the work in that zone as we go. We are not going to go to a different zone until we are ready. That is what one process flow looks like in construction. In addition to the meeting, the inspection, and the submittal examples—do one thing, one piece at a time.

Importance Of Planning Work Ahead Of Time
The other thing that everybody needs to know is that whether you’re doing a submittal, or you’re doing a meeting, or you’re doing an inspection, or you’re doing a zone, there has to be the time that it takes for you to do the work, also with a little bit of a buffer at the end—a little bit of a break.

 

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go!

How Do You Deal With A Difficult Client?

Posted on by Nicolas M.

In this blog post, we’re going to cover how to deal with a difficult client. Don’t you just hate dealing with abusive clients? If so, you have come to the right blog post, because we don’t put up with that around here. And we’re going to show you how to go from chaos to calm right now. 

So, what are the 14 steps that are required when dealing with a difficult client? Why do they do what they do? It’s really helpful to understand that actually, and how can you protect yourself? We’re going to cover that all. Let’s go.

I want to let you know that I do have some experience with this.

My Experiences Handling Difficult Clients I have worked for a lot of different clients, on a lot of different projects, and now as the CEO of Elevate, I get to work with a lot of general contractors and building owners. So I know what I’m talking about, and I’ve seen a lot of examples of clients who attempt to push and abuse the contractor—either intentionally or not. And these are the steps. We’re not going to waste any time, we’re just going to get right into them.

Some of the first steps that I’m about to tell you are pre-emptive, but if you do have a client that needs to be managed because they’re a little bit toxic, we’ll get into those at the end of the 14.

Step 1: Understand Your Client and Know Their Needs The reason I mention this first and foremost is because a lot of the behavior of a toxic client—and it doesn’t mean it’s right—is because they don’t feel understood or listened to. One of the first things you can do is really, really connect with them. This is probably best done, no, definitely best done, early on in the design and pre-construction phase. Teaming before you actually start the project is crucial, so you can identify the conditions of satisfaction with the owner and designers and start to build a cohesive team. Doing this sets you up for a higher likelihood of success. No, this won’t fix all issues, but it’s definitely somewhere to start.

Step 2: Take Care of Your Client’s Needs—In Spite of Human Nature Humans are emotional; humans will do what they do, and there are systems they fit into that we must understand. You need to take care of your client’s actual needs—the ones that are right, contractual, honest, moral, and ethical. For example, if your client asks you to start the project before they’re ready, that should be a no. If they ask for unsafe things, cutting corners, or trade stacking that fatigues crews, that should also be a no. The customer is right when it’s within contract provisions and doesn’t harm anyone.

Step 3: Understand Contractual Requirements You need to understand the contractual requirements to stay in balance. Be on top of your game—respond to requests timely and stay on top of your schedule, quality, safety, and costs. Doing your part well prevents escalation of toxicity in a difficult relationship.

Step 4: Look Deeper into Feelings Try to understand where your client’s emotional reactions are coming from. If you get to the root cause, you might solve the real problem and not just the symptom.

Step 5: See the Problem from Their Point of View Connect with them from their perspective, and act as if you’re an extension of that owner.

Step 6: Build a Team Through Difficult Situations Rally the team, build trust, engage in healthy conflict, set goals, and hold each other accountable.

Step 7: Find the Right Person to Communicate with the Client If all else fails, find someone within your organization who can calm the situation and manage the relationship effectively.

Step 8: Hold to the Right Stick to doing what’s right—hold to your schedule, avoid cutting corners, and don’t compromise safety.

Step 9: Shield Your Team from Distraction If you’re the superintendent or PM, shield your team from the negativity and toxicity of the client.

Step 10: Shield Your Team from a Toxic Client’s Representative If necessary, manage the contract to protect your team from a toxic owner’s representative.

Step 11: Set Boundaries If the client crosses the line, set firm boundaries and communicate the consequences if the behavior continues.

Step 12: Stop Working for Them (if Necessary) If the situation doesn’t improve, you may need to consider stopping work for that client.

Step 13: Never Start Doing the Wrong Thing Due to Manipulation Always hold to what’s right, even if it’s difficult. Don’t compromise on safety, ethics, or legality.

Step 14: Protect Yourself and Your Team At the end of the day, always do the right thing, and protect your team from undue harm.

I hope this helps you navigate difficult client relationships while maintaining your professionalism and protecting your team.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go!

What Is A Construction Logistics Plan?

Posted on by Nicolas M.

Introduction & Summary

What exactly is a construction logistics plan? Many amateur planners focus on tactics, armchair generals focus on strategy, but real experts master logistics. If you’re looking to 10x your logistics game and create a made-ready list of all the elements you should include in your construction planning, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, we’ll cover key tactics, practical advice, and the essential components of an effective logistics strategy for your construction project. 

What Is a Construction Logistics Plan?

A construction logistics plan is a comprehensive strategy that helps manage all the logistical aspects of a construction project. It can be broken down into four main categories:

  1. Supply Chain Management: Ensuring that the flow of materials and supplies to the site is consistent and reliable.
  2. On-Site Logistics: Coordinating the transportation of materials and workers on-site to optimize productivity.
  3. Public and Client Relations: Managing how your logistics impact neighbors, the surrounding community, and your client.
  4. Inventory and Decision Making: Strategizing the levels of materials kept on site and how they are distributed and managed.

Your logistics plan will address these areas, ensuring that your supply chain delivers materials efficiently, from the point of receipt to the place of installation. It also helps safeguard your neighbors’ and clients’ experience while ensuring that materials and inventory are kept in check.

The Purpose of Construction Logistics Plans

Logistics plans are used to manage:

  • Receiving Materials and People: Staging materials, transporting them, and moving people efficiently.
  • Accessing Work Areas: Ensuring that workers and materials are at the right place at the right time.
  • Supporting Workers: Making sure your team has everything they need to work safely and effectively.

An effective logistics plan serves as a visual guide to help manage your supply chain, on-site logistics, public interaction, and material staging.

Different Ways to Create a Construction Logistics Plan

The beauty of a logistics plan is its flexibility. It can be created in various formats:

  • By Hand: Simple sketches or layouts.
  • In Software: Using Excel, Bluebeam, AutoCAD, Revit, or 3D modeling software.
  • 3D Models: You can even create a 3D model using foam core board, printouts, and glue.

No matter how you create your logistics plan, it should be a visual tool that communicates clearly with your team and trade partners.

Six Key Types of Construction Logistics Plans

To fully optimize your project, consider creating six distinct types of logistics plans. Each one is tailored to a specific phase of construction:

  1. Safety Plan: This plan shows the entire site and outlines emergency gathering points, fire extinguishers, AEDs, access and egress points, and all other safety-related aspects.
  2. General Signage Plan: Outlines how workers, foremen, and deliveries will enter the site, how pedestrians and motorists will interact with the project, and how signage and wayfinding will be implemented.
  3. Mobilization, Make-Ready, and Foundations Plan: This plan focuses on the early phases of the project, such as demo, staging materials like rebar, and concrete washouts.
  4. Superstructure Logistics Plan: Deals with the crane-heavy phase, whether steel or concrete, involving formwork, reinforcing materials, and placing.
  5. Exterior & Interior Logistics Plan: Focuses on access and entry points for workers and materials, exterior construction, and hoist logistics.
  6. Site Work & Close-Out Plan: This plan details the final stages of the project, including site work, closing areas, furniture installation, and other owner-specific services.

How to Implement Construction Logistics Plans Effectively

Having a plan is one thing, but using it effectively is another. Here are six quick tips to make sure your logistics plans are working for you:

  1. Keep Plans Updated: Information should never be static. Keep everything up-to-date with real-time adjustments.
  2. Plan Material Staging: Use the logistics plan in your daily huddles to ensure coordinated deliveries and prevent unnecessary material movements.
  3. Synchronize Entry Points with Delivery Schedules: Ensure that all entry points are clearly shown on the plan and are synced with deliveries.
  4. Ensure Operators Have Access: Make sure your hoist, crane, and forklift operators can see the logistics plan at all times.
  5. Use Maps in Huddles: Regularly discuss and coordinate logistics during team meetings to keep everyone aligned.
  6. Make the Plan Visible to All: Post logistics plans where everyone can see them—conference rooms, huddle areas, etc.

What NOT to Do with Construction Logistics Plans

There are a few common pitfalls you should avoid:

  1. Don’t Check the Box: Creating a logistics plan and then ignoring it will doom your project to inefficiency.
  2. Don’t Skip Any of the Six Key Plans: Each phase of your project deserves its own detailed logistics plan to ensure everything runs smoothly.
  3. Don’t Let the Plan Become Static: It must be a living document, constantly updated and adjusted as conditions change.

Important Things to Include in a Construction Logistics Plan

Here’s a rapid-fire list of key elements you should consider including in your logistics plan:

  • Area Control: Clear access routes and configurations.
  • Traffic Patterns: How vehicles and pedestrians will interact with your site.
  • Site Security: New utility construction, equipment staging, and mobilization points.
  • Equipment Placement: Location of cranes, hoists, and other heavy equipment.
  • Material Laydown: Where materials will be stored, fire lanes, and emergency planning.

By covering these points, you’ll ensure that every aspect of your construction project runs smoothly, from receiving materials to final close-out.

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

The importance of a detailed and well-managed construction logistics plan cannot be overstated. It is the backbone of your project, ensuring that materials, people, and equipment all move efficiently, safely, and productively through every phase of the build.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go!

Construction Management vs. Civil Engineering: Understanding the Differences

Posted on by Nicolas M.

Construction management versus civil engineering is an interesting topic that often sparks curiosity among those considering a career in construction. In this blog, we’ll delve into the differences between these two fields and explore why many construction management professionals opt for civil engineering degrees. If you’re interested in this, keep reading to gain valuable insights that can help guide your educational and career choices. 

What Is Construction Management?

Construction management focuses on the overall management of a project. It involves overseeing systems, processes, administration, and the leveraging of resources to ensure the project is completed efficiently. Construction management encompasses:

  • Managing costs, schedules, quality, and safety on-site.
  • Bringing teams together and maintaining communication.
  • Overseeing reports and documentation.
  • Planning and scheduling.
  • Budgeting and cost control.
  • Procuring materials and equipment.
  • Coordinating subcontractors and workers.
  • Ensuring safety compliance.
  • Communicating with clients, trade partners, engineers, and architects.

To pursue a career in construction management, individuals typically study within a civil engineering framework or obtain a construction science degree. It’s common to find people with civil engineering degrees who focus on construction management. However, it’s important not to confuse the two fields—civil engineering and construction management are distinct disciplines.

Different Ways to Study Construction Management

While civil engineering and construction management are different, many universities offer construction management as a focus within their civil engineering departments. This can sometimes lead to confusion, but it’s essential to recognize that construction management is more about project oversight rather than the technical design aspects that civil engineers handle.

Construction Management Certifications

Several certifications can bolster a career in construction management, such as:

  • Certified Construction Manager (CCM)
  • DBIA (Design-Build Institute of America) certification
  • CM-Lean certification

These certifications are valuable for managing construction projects but not necessarily for the technical engineering aspects.

A Word of Caution: Be mindful when considering a PMP (Project Management Professional) certification, as it tends to focus more on administrative skills rather than the hands-on project management skills needed in construction.

Potential Positions with a Construction Management Degree

With a construction management degree, you can pursue various roles, including:

  • Site Manager (especially outside the US)
  • Project Manager
  • Project Engineer
  • Operations Manager
  • Project Director
  • Project Executive
  • Assistant Superintendent
  • Superintendent
  • General Superintendent
  • Field Operations Director

What Is Civil Engineering?

Civil engineering, on the other hand, is centered around the design, development, and maintenance of infrastructure. Civil engineers work on utilities, plants, roads, bridges, dams, and buildings. Their responsibilities include:

  • Designing infrastructure projects.
  • Conducting investigations and feasibility studies.
  • Preparing engineering plans and specifications.
  • Analyzing data and performing complex calculations.
  • Ensuring compliance with engineering standards and regulations.
  • Supervising construction projects from an administrative standpoint.
  • Addressing technical issues and problem-solving throughout the project.

Civil Engineering Certifications

To become a civil engineer, you’ll need a degree specifically in civil engineering. Certifications like the Professional Engineer (PE) license and Engineer in Training (EIT) certification are crucial for advancing in this field. Additional training and certifications that focus on specific design areas can also enhance your qualifications.

Potential Positions with a Civil Engineering Degree

With a civil engineering degree, you can pursue roles such as:

  • Civil Engineer
  • Structural Engineer
  • Geotechnical Engineer
  • Transportation Engineer
  • Environmental Engineer

Why Most Construction Managers Choose a Civil Engineering Degree

Many construction managers choose to pursue a civil engineering degree because it provides a strong technical foundation. Here’s why:

  1. Technical Foundation: A civil engineering degree equips you with a deep understanding of materials, methods, and math, which is crucial for managing complex construction projects.
  2. Versatility: The skill set gained from a civil engineering degree makes you more versatile, allowing you to move between construction management and design roles.
  3. Problem-Solving Skills: Civil engineering education emphasizes problem-solving, which is invaluable in construction management.
  4. Credibility and Trust: A degree in civil engineering with a construction management focus provides credibility, making it easier to get hired and advance in your career.
  5. Certification Requirements: Some certifications and licenses require a formal degree, making it essential for certain career paths.
  6. Career Flexibility: A civil engineering degree opens up more career opportunities and allows for greater flexibility in your professional journey.
  7. Understanding of Design and Engineering: This understanding allows construction managers to work more effectively with design teams.
  8. Competitive Advantage: Construction management or civil engineering majors with a construction management focus are often more competitive in the job market.

Understanding the difference between a construction manager and a civil engineer, as well as why many construction managers choose to earn a civil engineering degree, can help you make informed decisions about your education and career. Whether you choose construction management or civil engineering, both fields offer rewarding experiences and opportunities.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go!

Benefits of Construction Management Software

Posted on by Nicolas M.

Unlocking the Power of Construction Management Software: The Right Way

In this blog, we’ll explore the significant role construction management software plays in modern construction projects, emphasizing the importance of using it effectively. If you’re eager to learn how to leverage this technology, understand the frameworks that ensure its success, and keep it in check so you don’t lose your way, you’re in the right place. 

How The Software You Use Can Affect Your Systems

Let me begin with a story about a consulting company that truly understands lean construction, last planner systems, and other essential construction scheduling tools. Kevin and I visited them to observe their innovative practices and provide feedback during a field walk. During one session, they mentioned that they used to implement certain fundamentals that effectively created flow in their construction projects. However, as they started relying more on their project management software, these essential practices were phased out because the software didn’t support them. The consequences were noticeable.

This is a common issue with construction software. Whether it’s scheduling or project management tools, you must be aware of how software can limit you and impact your systems and processes. Identify potential negative consequences early. Throughout my career, I’ve used various software like Prolog, Procore, and CMiC, and they’re all excellent—if used correctly. Remember, the software should do what you need it to do, not dictate your processes. To quote a principle I stand by: “Software should do things that only it can do to enable you to do things that only you can and should be doing.”

Qualities of a Good Construction Management Software

A construction management software is only valuable if it is fast, addictive, and useful. If the software slows you down, complicates processes, or adds unnecessary steps, it’s not worth your time. I once worked with a safety app that, while designed to streamline incident reporting, added so many extra steps that it became a burden. This complexity led to a significant drop in safety observations because no one wanted to use it. Software must be fast, engaging, and practical for it to be effective.

How Construction Management Software Can Help with Cost Management

One area where construction management software truly shines is in cost management. Unlike Excel, where one wrong formula can ruin an entire estimate or projection, dedicated software tools offer a higher level of accuracy and reliability. These tools are excellent for cost estimation, budgeting, and managing pay applications, ensuring you stay on top of your financials without the risk of human error.

How Construction Management Software Can Increase Efficiency

Efficiency is another area where the right software can make a big difference. For example, during my time as a superintendent, I used an app that allowed me to take a picture, use voice-to-text for notes, and automatically sync everything into the project management system. This streamlined the daily reporting process, saving time and improving accuracy. Look for software that enhances these everyday workflows, making them faster and more efficient.

How Construction Management Software Can Make Documentation Easier

Having all project documentation in one place is crucial. Whether it’s plans, specifications, RFIs, submittals, or contracts, the right software helps you keep everything organized and easily accessible. This not only improves project efficiency but also ensures that your company can retain and recall important documents as needed.

How Construction Management Software Can Improve Collaboration

Collaboration is key in any construction project, and many software tools are designed to facilitate better teamwork. Whether it’s using WhatsApp for communication, Miro for virtual whiteboarding, or Microsoft Teams for integrated project management, these tools can significantly improve how your team works together. When choosing collaboration tools, ensure they enhance your team’s connectivity and efficiency.

How Construction Management Software Can Help Streamline Your Process

When it comes to quality control and risk management, software can be incredibly beneficial. However, it’s essential to ensure that the software you choose doesn’t add unnecessary complexity to these processes. I’ve seen instances where overly complicated software caused quality observations to plummet, simply because it was too difficult to use.

Other Uses for Construction Management Software

Construction management software also plays a critical role in data analytics, mobile access, resource management, and more. For example, tools like Power BI can help with data reporting, while mobile access allows workers in the field to stay connected. Ensuring that your software integrates with other tools and systems, such as accounting software, is also crucial for smooth project management.

My Favorite Construction Management Software

Some of my favorite tools in the construction industry include Autodesk, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office, and Canva for design and communication. I also appreciate tools like NoteVault for daily reports and BIM 360 Field for punch lists. The key is to find a suite of tools that work well together and meet your specific needs.

How We Used Different Construction Management Software in Our Systems

At the Bioscience Research Laboratory, we implemented a well-mapped system using a variety of tools. We used Bluebeam Project to post drawings, RFIs, and submittals, BIM 360 Glue for modeling, and NoteVault for daily reports. Each tool was chosen for its specific purpose, and the entire system was designed to work seamlessly together. Even though it wasn’t all under one enterprise license, the workflow was efficient and effective, proving that you don’t need to lock everything into one software solution to achieve great results.

Lastly, to ensure you’re designing a system with the right applications for your projects, it’s crucial to stay informed and make educated choices. If you ever need help in choosing the right applications or designing a system that works for your team, we’re here to help.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go!

What Does It Mean To Be A Team Player?

Posted on by Nicolas M.

If you want to be a great team player and start showing up that way right now, this is the blog post for you. Wouldn’t it be nice if somebody had a formula for this? Well, actually, there is one! You can become a better team player tomorrow, and I’ll give you these references. 

The Ideal Team Player

There’s a book called The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni, and I love it. In this blog post, we’re going to do a deep dive into the content and really give you the framework. You’re going to love it. So, there are three categories in the ideal team player spectrum:

  1. Humble
  2. Hungry
  3. Smart

If you want to be an ideal team player, you will be humble, hungry, and smart. Let’s explore what each of these mean.

Humble: What Being a Humble Team Player Looks Like

Humility in this sense means being willing to do lower-level work amongst your team. Are you willing to be all in, as long as it’s legal, moral, and ethical? Regardless of your position, are you ready to lean in and help your team, not run away, but actually dig in and assist?

Hungry: What Being a Hungry Team Player Looks Like

Hungry means you really care about your career and its growth. You want this, you’re going to figure it out, and you’re going to dig in. You’re going to own your role and do well in your position. Being hungry means you’re that hard-working, get-it-done type of player. So, when you are on a team, not only must you be willing to do what’s needed, but also do it well, with a certain amount of hunger.

Smart: What Being a Smart Team Player Looks Like

Smart doesn’t just mean being intellectually smart. Obviously, you must be smart enough to do the job, but it also means being smart with people. 80% of your job involves dealing with people, while 20% is the technical side of it. Being smart means you are capable of doing the job and also adept at working with people.

What Being an Ideal Team Player Looks Like

The really great spot here is having all three of these characteristics. This is when you become the ideal team player. Now, let me show you how to use this pattern to identify gaps in this model, either for yourself or for others, so that you can really assess the problem.

Different Types of Team Players

  1. The Pawn: This is a person who is humble but not hungry or smart. They are willing to dig in and do anything for the team but don’t drive their own career success and aren’t good with people. They often get used by the team and don’t know how to say no.
  2. The Bulldozer: This personality type is hungry but not humble or smart. They have great drive and determination but lack team spirit and people skills. They bulldoze over everyone, often causing conflicts due to their aggressive approach.
  3. The Charmer: A person who is smart but not humble or hungry. They know how to work with people and influence others but lack the willingness to dig in with the team and drive results.
  4. The Lovable Slacker: Humble and smart but not hungry. They work well with the team and are good with people but lack motivation and productivity.
  5. The Accidental Mess Maker: Humble and hungry but not smart. They have a lot of drive and are willing to help but lack emotional intelligence, often causing conflicts and making duplicate work.
  6. The Skillful Politician: Hungry and smart but not humble. They know how to work with people and are driven but aren’t willing to do lower-level work, often acting like a politician to climb the ranks.

How to Help Others Become Ideal Team Players

If you have a team player who doesn’t fit the ideal mold, here’s how you can help:

  • The Pawn: Encourage them to develop their career aspirations and people skills.
  • The Bulldozer: Coach them on team collaboration and emotional intelligence.
  • The Charmer: Motivate them to take on more responsibility and drive results.
  • The Lovable Slacker: Inspire them to find their passion and increase their productivity.
  • The Accidental Mess Maker: Provide training on team dynamics and emotional intelligence.
  • The Skillful Politician: Encourage them to stretch outside their comfort zone and support the team.

Advantages of Using the Ideal Team Player Pattern

This pattern is simple enough for us to assess where we and others stand. It also highlights specific areas of focus for thought work and training.

  1. Hire the Right People: Use assessments from The Table Group website to evaluate incoming new hires and existing employees.
  2. Assess Your Existing Team: Not for slash and burn approaches, but to help people align with the ideal team player framework.
  3. Develop Your Existing Staff: Provide training, programs, and support to improve skills in any lacking areas.
  4. Embed These Values into Your Culture: Talk about the framework, act on it, and integrate it into your organizational culture.

Key Qualities of an Ideal Team Player

  1. Hard workers
  2. Organized
  3. Willing to help
  4. Contribute to a happy environment
  5. Build trust with their team

Learn More with These Resources

Are you an ideal team player? Let’s find out! Below, I’m linking you to Patrick Lencioni’s book, which is fantastic, along with some guides that will help you. You’ll find assessments for hiring and self-assessments to develop into an ideal team player.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog post. On we go!

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go!

How To Resolve Conflict Between Two Employees At Work

Posted on by Nicolas M.

Have you ever dealt with conflict between two employees at work and didn’t know what to do? If so, this blog post is for you. We’re going to explore why conflict happens in the first place and outline six steps you can use to navigate these situations effectively. Let’s get started. 

Common Reasons Why Conflict Arises in the Workplace

Understanding why conflict occurs is the first step. Usually, conflict happens when someone feels like something’s being taken away, when someone is feeling jealous, angry, or fearful, or when someone’s basic human needs are not being met. These needs include certainty, significance, variety, and love and connection. 

Most conflict among employees stems from a positive intent, meaning they want something, they’re trying to keep something, they’re trying to preserve something, or they’re trying to fulfill a need. When you have this perspective, you can avoid demonizing the people involved and understand that conflict is a normal part of the human experience. Conflict can arise when someone doesn’t feel heard, doesn’t have their needs met, fears loss, or can’t connect with their colleagues. All of these issues have solutions.

Six Steps to Resolve Conflict

Step 1: Recognize the Cause

Know why conflict happens. This understanding is crucial in addressing the root of the issue.

Step 2: Create an Open Door Policy

An open door policy ensures that employees know they can come to you with any issue and that you’ll provide a safe, confidential environment. Make it clear that while some situations, like harassment or discrimination, must be reported, their feelings and experiences will be kept confidential. Listen genuinely and show that you care about their outcomes.

Step 3: Address Serious Issues Promptly

If the conflict involves harassment, discrimination, or abuse, immediately contact your HR and legal departments for guidance. Assure the employee that they are in a safe place and that the situation will be handled appropriately.

Step 4: Determine the Severity of the Situation

Understand how serious the conflict is by listening carefully and observing body language. Ask the person involved to share their experience and feelings.

Step 5: Encourage Direct Communication

If appropriate, encourage the employees to resolve the issue directly with each other. Coach them on how to have a constructive conversation. If they’re comfortable, allow them to try resolving it on their own and check back with you if they need further assistance.

Step 6: Mediate if Necessary

If direct communication isn’t possible or successful, offer to mediate a conversation between the parties. Your role is to facilitate a constructive dialogue and help them reconnect. If the conflict cannot be resolved, you might need to assess whether the employees can be separated or reassigned to different teams.

Additional Steps

Encourage Team Building

Encourage employees to spend time together and get to know each other better. This can help repair relationships and foster a collaborative environment. Personal player cards, where employees write down how they want to be communicated with, can also be helpful.

Documentation

Document the conflict and the steps taken to resolve it. This ensures that your actions can be audited and provides a record for legal purposes.

Align with Company Values

Always anchor your conflict resolution process to the company’s core values, employee handbook, and local rules and customs. This ensures consistency and fairness.

The Key to Conflict Resolution

Listening to all parties involved is crucial. By listening, involving the right people, and seeking second opinions, you can find effective solutions that address the needs of the employees, the team, and the company.

Conflict is a natural part of any team dynamic, but with the right approach, you can resolve it constructively. Remember to stay calm, involve HR and legal when necessary, and seek solutions that benefit everyone.

We hope this blog post empowers you as a leader to handle conflicts effectively. For more detailed steps and resources, check out our linked blog post that provides a comprehensive guide on navigating difficult workplace situations safely and successfully.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go!

What Is A Gemba Walk And Why Is It Important?

Posted on by Nicolas M.

Do you want to know the main thing that will switch you from a classical old-timey management style to the new Lean management style? If you do, this is the blog post for you. 

In this blog post, I’m going to show you a Lean technique that will change everything for you, and you can start it tomorrow. I’m going to discuss the seven steps that you can begin using that will significantly improve the productivity of your people and the pattern for making real improvements at the place of work. Stay with us.

What is a Gemba Walk?

So let’s talk about it. What is a Gemba walk? A Gemba walk is a workplace walkthrough that attempts to observe people, ask about their tasks, and identify productivity gains. The term Gemba walk is derived from the Japanese word Gemba, which means “the real place.” It literally refers to identifying the place where work really happens. 

The key concept here, which you might think is basic or fundamental, but is quite fantastic, is to go to the place of work and observe what’s happening with the people closest to the work. The goal is to understand how work is being done, the challenges people face, and opportunities to improve for them, not just for the bottom dollar.

How to Do a Gemba Walk

Here are the steps in the process:

  1. Go to the Place Where the Work is Happening: This might seem fundamental, but how many leadership or executive teams actually do this? Most of the time, leadership teams sit isolated in their offices, not understanding what the workers are dealing with. First step, get out of that comfort zone, do field walks, check out your shop floor, project sites, and meetings. Go to the place of work to see what’s happening on location.
  2. Talk to and Observe People Doing Work: Listen to them and have real meaningful conversations to understand what they are experiencing.
  3. Look for Waste: Look for the eight wastes, overburden, and unevenness. Any of these will negatively affect the people and the bottom line of your business.
  4. Map Out an Understanding of the Process: Understand what’s going on from the conversations and your visual observations. Make sure you can visually articulate or note down what’s really taking place.
  5. Take Steps to Improve the Environment: Here are some suggestions:
    • Enabling: How can you better support the people in your organization?
    • Teaching and Training: Is there any training that could help your frontline workers in their tasks?
    • Listening and Adjusting: Maybe they just need you to listen and adjust company systems to support their work.
    • Providing Better Tools or Equipment: Are there better tools or equipment that could support them?
    • Ensuring Enough Time: Do they have enough time to finish tasks and regroup?
    • Improving the Workplace: Is their work area conducive to high productivity?
    • Bringing in Outside Expertise: Is there an expert or resource you need to bring into your organization to solve some problems?

Important Things to Remember During Field Walks

As a part of your overall process, always consider these:

  1. 5S-ing: Teach and encourage everyone to sort, straighten, sweep, standardize, and sustain their areas every day.
  2. Seeing Waste: Encourage people to memorize the eight wastes: overproduction, excess inventory, motion, transportation, defects, over-processing, waiting, and not using the genius of the team. After 5S-ing, people will see waste and be motivated to make improvements.
  3. Start, Stop, and Continue: At the end of your Gemba walk, ask your team:
    • What should we start doing to improve?
    • What should we stop doing?
    • What should we continue doing that’s working well?

Importance of Sharing Improvements Throughout Your Organization

If you see a before-and-after story or a cool idea during your walks, share it throughout your organization via email, pictures, WhatsApp, or YouTube videos. Don’t underestimate the importance of sharing improvements. This creates dialogue and encourages a culture of continuous improvement.

Effective Method to Properly Observe the Workplace

One key tip is the Ohno Circle, inspired by Taiichi Ohno, the inventor of the Toyota Production System. He would draw a chalk circle on the ground and ask people to stand there for a prolonged period to observe and understand what was really happening without distractions.

Final Thoughts

If you engage in a Gemba walk, preferably every month, don’t go there to dictate solutions. Go to observe and have real conversations. This approach will build a culture of trust, improve the work environment, and ultimately enhance productivity and profits.

Classical management often isolates leaders from workers. Lean management connects them, leveraging the insights of those who know what changes are needed. Manage like this, where you’re connected and observing the real work, because you have the power to make impactful changes.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go!

How Do You Balance Work And Family Life?

Posted on by Nicolas M.

Are you at the point where you just need to be home and present with your family and still crush it at work? Do you want to know exactly how you can achieve a balance between your work and home life and what specific tools are available to support you in this endeavor? Would you like my seven recommendations for how to execute this flawlessly? If so, you’re going to love this blog post. So let’s go ahead and get started. 

Differences Between Balance vs. Blend

What does balance mean? When you look it up in the dictionary, it means an even distribution of something. But there’s also another word that I want to introduce here, which is blend, defined as a mixture of different things in quantities. Sometimes we’re really focused on balancing. But the fact of the matter is that work and home life require an intentional blend. So it’s not a fight of either-or; it’s about finding the right blend and balance.

The Key to Work & Family Life Balance and Blend

The key to balancing and blending your work and home life is to intentionally schedule both. Here’s how to approach it:

  1. Schedule Family Time First: Determine the exact time you need for your family. This includes asking your spouse, partner, or kids what the most important times are for them and when they need you home. For example, maybe you need to be home for a weekly baseball game on Wednesdays at 4 PM, or ensure you’re available for date night on Fridays at 5 PM. Get detailed and specific about these key times.
  2. Schedule Work Time Next: After identifying your family commitments, determine when you can work late if necessary. For instance, maybe your family is okay with you working late on Mondays and Thursdays. Communicate these times with your project team to ensure they can cover for you during your family commitments.

How to Schedule Time for Your Family and Work

Intentionally scheduling time for your family and work involves clear communication and setting boundaries. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  • Talk to Your Family: Have a discussion with your family about their key needs and commitments. Understand what times are non-negotiable for family activities.
  • Talk to Your Work Team: Communicate with your project team about your family commitments and find ways to cover for each other during these times. For example, someone can cover the early morning tasks if you need to take your kids to school.

Prioritizing Tasks When Scheduling Your Time

Prioritizing tasks is crucial to balance your work and family life. Here’s the order to follow:

  1. Family and Personal Time: Schedule your family and personal time first. This is your top priority.
  2. Career Development: Next, schedule the tasks necessary for your career development.
  3. Project Meetings: Schedule important meetings for your projects.
  4. Handling Project Chaos: Finally, schedule time to handle any chaos or unexpected issues that arise in your projects.

Identifying Resources to Get Your Work Done on Time

To accomplish your tasks within the time you’ve allotted, you need to identify the necessary resources. Ask yourself:

  • How many people do I need on my team?
  • What technology and software will I need?
  • What support will I need to accomplish these tasks?
  • What training do I need to improve my efficiency?
  • What does my work environment need to look like?

The same planning applies to your family time. Be intentional about how you spend this time and what you need to make the most of it.

Tips to Make the Most of Your Time with Your Family

  1. Coordination Time: Spend at least 90 minutes each week with your partner or spouse coordinating family activities.
  2. Date Nights: Have two date nights per week – one out of the house and one at home.
  3. Proximity Time: Spend at least 15 hours per week in close proximity to your family.
  4. Focused Time with Kids: Spend at least 15 minutes of focused time with each child per week.
  5. Family Outings: Plan one fun family outing per week.
  6. Dinner at Home: Ensure at least two nights per week where the whole family has dinner together at home.
  7. No Weekend Work: Avoid working on weekends to rest and rejuvenate.

Achieving Work & Family Life Balance and Blend

Balancing and blending your work and family life is about being intentional and setting boundaries. Constrain your work schedule to fit within these boundaries, and you’ll find creative ways to achieve your goals. Breaking the habit of constantly prioritizing work over family is essential for maintaining a healthy balance.

In conclusion, a good work-life balance and blend come down to intentional planning and communication. By following these tips and recommendations, you can create a harmonious balance between your work and family life, ensuring success and happiness in both areas.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go!