Why do smart, experienced leadership teams occasionally make decisions that look obvious in hindsight? Many leaders believe groupthink happens when people are afraid to speak up or when teams lack diversity. But research from Yale psychologist Irving Janis reveals something far more uncomfortable: Groupthink often appears in the strongest, most…
Are leaders in our construction space risking irrelevance by ignoring artificial intelligence? AI is rapidly changing how companies operate, but many leaders are still treating it like a passing trend, delegating it to IT. In this episode, Bradley Hartmann connects a modern leadership challenge with a bizarre 17th-century scientific experiment…
How do you know if your strategic planning is helping you win—or just helping you look like everyone else? Many construction leaders rely on benchmarking, consultant reports, and industry comparisons to guide their strategy. It feels smart and data-driven. But as AI makes benchmarking faster and cheaper than ever, companies…
Many construction leaders know what good leadership looks like—but somewhere between deadlines, travel, and constant problem-solving, those fundamentals slip. This month’s book recommendation is a 117-page leadership reminder titled The Way of the Shepherd by Dr. Kevin Leman and Bill Pentak. This episode speaks directly to leaders who feel stretched…
Construction leaders are being told—daily—that AI, automation, dashboards, and optimization are the future. But what if the very things we’re rushing to automate are the things that actually make leadership work? In this episode, Bradley Hartmann explores a surprising case study: the resurgence of Barnes & Noble, a 140-year-old, paper-and-ink…
What’s the right size for your business? If your gut response is, “As big as possible!” you’re not alone. But that mindset can quietly invite unnecessary complexity, friction, and risk into your operation—especially when growth isn't planned or sustainable. In this episode, we challenge the default assumption that bigger is…
499 :: Performance Reviews Are Broken In Construction—Here’s How to Avoid Demoralizing and Confusing Your Talent Are your year-end performance reviews actually motivating your team—or does it feel like (to you and/or them?) you’re all just checking a box? In construction, where time is money and field leaders are already…
Is your annual strategic plan snapped shut in some binder, just collecting dust by February? If you're a construction leader frustrated with planning sessions that feel good in the moment but lead nowhere, you're not alone. This episode tackles why traditional strategy frameworks often fail to deliver results—and offers a…
Is your push for excellence quietly burning out your best people? Many construction leaders default to "pacesetting"—leading by example, demanding speed, and expecting others to keep up. But according to leadership expert Daniel Goleman, this style may be crushing team morale, lowering performance, and increasing turnover—especially when overused. In this…
After Evan McKee, CHC of Suffolk Construction and I finished recording episode 489 of The Construction Leadership Podcast, I got a quick tour of The Cave that was hiding in plain sight.
How is Suffolk Construction using AI and predictive analytics to reduce jobsite safety risks? In this episode, Evan McKee, COO of Suffolk Construction’s Texas region, explains how Suffolk is implementing AI-driven safety tools, improving field communication, and leading innovation across major construction projects. He shares how Suffolk builds trust with…
Greg Williams of Cassity Jones shares his experience attending Sales Fundamentals Workshop 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas. Join us for the 7th Annual Sales Fundamentals Workshop, happening April 6–8, 2026 at the Omni Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas! Who should attend: Sales managers, sales reps, and sales leaders ready to…
Dan Efenecy, Market Sales Manager at Carter Lumber, shares his experience attending the Sales Fundamentals Workshop 2025 in Fort Worth, Texas — offering insights from a Sales Manager’s perspective. #Sales #Lumber #SalesTraining #LBMSales #Construction #Leadership #Salespeople #Training #SFW2025
Peter Koopman of Koopman Lumber describes his experience attending the Bradley Hartmann & Co. 2025 Sales Fundamentals Workshop in Ft. Worth, TX. #Sales #Lumber #SalesTraining #LBMSales #Construction #Leadership #Salespeople #Training #SFW2025
Rudy Galvan of Cassity Jones describes his experience attending the Bradley Hartmann & Co. 2024 Sales Fundamentals Workshop in Ft. Worth, TX. #Sales #Lumber #SalesTraining #LBMSales #Construction #Leadership #Salespeople #Training #SFW2025
Dan Efenecy of Carter Lumber describes his experience attending the Bradley Hartmann & Co. 2025 Sales Fundamentals Workshop in Ft. Worth, TX. #Sales #Lumber #SalesTraining #LBMSales #Construction #Leadership #Salespeople #Training #SFW2025
Goodloe Chilcutt of New Home Building Stores describes his experience attending the Bradley Hartmann & Co. 2024 Sales Fundamentals Workshop in Ft. Worth, TX. #Sales #Lumber #SalesTraining #LBMSales #Construction #Leadership #Salespeople #Training #SFW2025
Ryan Hinch of Cassity Jones describes his experience attending the Bradley Hartmann & Co. 2025 Sales Fundamentals Workshop in Ft. Worth, TX. #Sales #Lumber #SalesTraining #LBMSales #Construction #Leadership #Salespeople #Training #SFW2025
Are you avoiding AI because you're too busy—or because you don’t want to confront what you don’t understand? In this episode, host Bradley Hartmann tackles resistance to AI adoption in the construction industry head-on, using the timeless wisdom of Charlie Munger to reveal the dangers of staying uninformed. Whether you’re…
Join us for the 7th Annual Sales Fundamentals Workshop, happening April 6–8, 2026 at the Omni Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas! Register by November 14th to save $300 and secure your spot before we sell out! Who should attend: Sales managers, sales reps, and sales leaders ready to sharpen their…
Are you waiting for “the right time” to engage with AI in your construction business? What if that moment is already behind you? In this episode, host Bradley Hartmann breaks down the real leadership crisis happening right now in construction—not leadership’s resistance to AI adoption, but total disengagement from it.…
Join us for the 7th Annual Sales Fundamentals Workshop, happening April 6–8, 2026 at the Omni Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas! Secure your spot today and save $300 when you register by November 14th. Don’t miss this opportunity to sharpen your sales skills and drive new sales consistently. 👉 Learn…
Are you leading your construction team with focus and clarity—or feel like you’re constantly putting out fires all day? In today’s episode, Bradley Hartmann shares game-changing lessons from Poor Charlie’s Almanack—a book that has quietly shaped some of the sharpest decision-makers in history. If you're struggling with accountability, resistance to…
Are your managers—and the colleagues that report to them—rowing in the wrong direction? If you’re struggling with disengaged middle managers, miscommunication, or a culture of silence, this episode uncovers the uncomfortable truths and research-backed solutions construction leaders need to hear. As layoffs rise and managers struggle to juggle 20–50 direct…