456 :: The Curse of Yes: How Jim Valvano Burned Out and Why You’re at Risk Too
Release Date: 04/22/2025
479 :: Think Task-Based Trust Is Enough? Here’s Why It's Costing You Time and Money and Why Cultural Intelligence Is the Key to Better Accountability on On-Site
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Do your Hispanic crews trust you—or are you unknowingly creating resentment, risk, and delays on your job site? Many construction leaders default to task-based trust without realizing that different cultures build trust in different ways. This leads to miscommunication, accountability issues, and slow performance—all of which can sabotage your leadership without you even knowing it. In this episode you will: Learn why your leadership style may be unintentionally creating resistance to change. Discover how cultural intelligence builds stronger teams, safer job sites, and faster schedules....
info_outline
478 :: Construction Leaders Must Learn From the NCAA’s Strategic Fumble On College Football
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Is your strategy based on assumptions that haven’t been tested in years? In this final episode in our mini-series on Dr. Peter Drucker’s “Theory of the Business” article, Bradley Hartmann breaks down how the NCAA’s outdated assumptions and refusal to adapt destroyed its hold on college football—and what construction leaders must learn to avoid the same fate. From resistance to change to blind spots in emotional intelligence and decision-making, this real-life case study reveals how ignoring your business environment can kill your team's performance. In this...
info_outline
477 :: Why Clinging to Your Past Success Destroys Great Construction Teams—DeBeers Proves It
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Are your assumptions about your construction business still valid—or are they silently holding you back from further growth and success? In today’s episode, we uncover how outdated thinking—even from a wildly successful company like DeBeers, present in both construction and diamond mining—can destroy long-term performance. We explore Peter Drucker’s “Theory of the Business” and to show how your unexamined assumptions about your market, mission, and core strengths could be holding your team back. Whether you're facing resistance to change or struggling to lead...
info_outline
476 :: What a British Retailer's Choices on Lingerie Can Teach Construction Firms About Leading High-Performing Teams Today
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Are outdated beliefs silently sabotaging your construction team’s performance? In today’s episode, Bradley Hartman breaks down Peter Drucker’s timeless “Theory of the Business” to reveal how even successful construction leaders risk falling into groupthink and losing touch with reality—especially when they assume they already know what their customers need. In this episode you will: Learn why updating your business assumptions is key to staying competitive in a fast-changing industry. Discover how to identify blind spots within your leadership team. Hear how a...
info_outline
475 :: Jaws, Spielberg, and Drucker Expose the Blind Spots in Construction Leadership
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
What if the primary assumptions guiding your business decisions are outdated—and no one on your leadership team is willing to say it? This episode of The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into Peter Drucker’s Theory of the Business and explores why many construction executives unintentionally resist change—despite clear signals from the market. Using the story of Jaws as a metaphor, we highlight how unchecked assumptions that led to past success can now lead to strategic misalignment, operational firefighting, and frustrated teams. In this episode, you will: Identify the...
info_outline
474 :: How the Detroit Tigers Changed Their Identity—And What Construction Leaders Can Learn From It
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Is your team resistant to change—coasting instead of attacking as you lead the team toward continuous improvement? Here’s what Major League Baseball’s Detroit Tigers can teach you about reversing the trend and building a high-performance identity. This episode breaks down a surprising performance turnaround from one of the slowest teams in all of baseball—and shows how the same mindset shift, when applied to construction leadership, can reduce confusion, increase accountability, and build elite teams that consistently deliver. In this episode, you will discover how to: Apply a...
info_outline
473 :: Why Traditional Accountability Methods Fail & How a Catcher's Mindset Can Fix It Fast
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Ever feel like your team knows what’s expected—but still falls short, time and again? If you're a construction leader tired of repeating yourself, dealing with resistance to change, and constantly putting out fires, it may not be a people problem—it might be a standards problem. This episode reveals how vague expectations are undermining performance, and what to do about it. In this episode featuring host Bradley Hartmann and his 13-year-old son who is a catcher, you will: Discover how clear, documented standards can radically improve accountability without micromanagement....
info_outline
472 :: The Surprising Link Between Gambling on Baseball and Building High-Performing Teams and How You Can Improve Leadership Decisions by 21%
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Do you know which of your leadership decisions will pay off—and which are quietly setting you up for delays, cost overruns, or missed opportunities? In this episode, you’ll learn how legendary Orioles manager Earl Weaver built a career on outthinking his opponents—thanks to lessons learned from his mob-connected bookie, Uncle Bud. We’ll break down how these same probabilistic thinking skills can transform how you lead construction projects, forecast challenges, and guide your team to consistently win. By listening, you’ll discover: The 4 components of a great...
info_outline
471 :: Stop Thinking Too Small: Texas-Sized Leadership & Change Management Lessons to Clarify Your Vision Now
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
In this episode of the Construction Leadership Podcast, host Bradley Hartmann asks a powerful question: Are you thinking too small? He’s joined by Christy Avalos, founder of and visionary behind in Whitewright, Texas—a one-of-a-kind, 83-acre social enterprise blending accessibility, healing, and community impact. From Highland cows and reindeer rentals to vocational training and paid transitional jobs for veterans, formerly incarcerated individuals, and those recovering from addiction, Christy’s vision is as bold as it is inspiring. Together, they explore how business,...
info_outline
470 :: The Glock 17, a Billionaire, and the Leadership Lesson That Will Transform Your Team’s Change Management
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
In episode 470 of The Construction Leadership Podcast, host Bradley Hartmann explores a powerful shift in how companies can better support young talent through meaningful relationships—by prioritizing partnerships over mentorships. Sparked by a client’s initiative to launch a formal mentorship program, Bradley reflects on why many such programs often fail despite good intentions. Drawing on real-world insights from companies across the industry, he uncovers common pitfalls in “corporate force-feeding” of mentorship and instead champions a more organic, thoughtful approach. ...
info_outlineIn episode 456 host Bradley Hartmann explores the dangers of overcommitment through the lens of two contrasting figures: Jim Valvano, the national champion basketball coach at N.C. State and Cal Newport, the Georgetown University professor and author.
Bradley reflects on Valvano's life, highlighting how his boundless energy and desire to seize every opportunity ultimately led to burnout and potential health consequences. He draws parallels to his own struggle with saying yes to everything and introduces Cal Newport's productivity philosophies from "Deep Work" and "Slow Productivity.”
The key takeaway for listeners is a cautionary tale about the risks of constant hustle and the importance of strategic focus. Hartmann shares personal insights about the challenges faced by entrepreneurs and leaders who struggle to set boundaries. The episode offers practical advice on doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and prioritizing quality over quantity.
Listeners will gain perspective on managing professional commitments, understanding personal limits, and the value of intentional productivity.
This episode is brought to you by The Simple Sales Pipeline® —the most efficient way to organize and value any construction sales rep's roster of customers and prospects in under 30 minutes once every 30 days.
***
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.
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 [email protected].