496 :: Why the “Old School” Leadership Style Doesn’t Work With Young Talent Anymore—And What To Do Instead with Mike Ellerbrook of UFP Site Built

Is your leadership style helping your construction team grow—or pushing top talent away?

If you're leading teams in today’s construction industry, you know generational gaps, tech adoption, and market uncertainty are more real than ever. In this episode, you’ll hear from UFP Site-Built EVP Mike Ellerbrook, whose leadership journey from the plant floor to the executive level shows how emotional intelligence, adaptability, and humor build strong, high-performance cultures that last.

In this episode you will:

• Discover how to shift leadership styles to reduce resistance to change and drive accountability.
• Learn how to make your culture more fun without losing focus on performance.
• Get real-world tactics to engage younger employees while respecting the wisdom of your veterans.

Press play to learn how strong leaders like Mike Ellerbrook adapt, connect across generations, and lead construction teams with focus, candor, and confidence.

Click here to download the classic HBR article on leadership styles by Daniel Goleman.  

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems. Whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization, these conversations will equip you with tools to lead smarter and build stronger teams. 

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

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If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.