461 :: Adam Kouri of DPR on Embracing Shadow Behaviors for Improved Leadership
Release Date: 05/28/2025
490 :: How Two Elite Teams—Suffolk Construction and the New Zealand All Blacks—Use Language to Dominate Their Fields
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Does your construction team actually live its values—or does the language on your website on the posters in HQ feel like empty slogans? If you’ve ever felt like your team's communication is scattered, or your cultural “initiatives” don’t actually shape behavior, this episode breaks down how elite organizations—from Suffolk Construction to the New Zealand All Blacks—use intentional language to create a competitive advantage. In this episode you will: Learn why a consistent internal vocabulary can align behaviors across your entire company Discover how phrases like...
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489 :: How To Embrace Innovation Without Losing Your Field Team’s Trust with Evan McKee of Suffolk Construction
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
How can construction leaders predict safety risks before incidents happen—using AI? In an industry that’s notoriously slow to adapt, this episode with Suffolk Construction’s Evan McKee reveals how leaders can overcome resistance to change and drive real innovation on the jobsite. From predictive analytics to building a culture of transparency, Evan shares practical strategies for adopting new technologies—without alienating your team. In this episode, you will: Learn how Suffolk uses AI to predict safety incidents with over 85% accuracy Discover what truly sets...
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488 :: The Integrity Fee: The Leadership Failure of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Are you building a leadership legacy—or risking your credibility one decision at a time? In episode 488, we examine what construction leaders can learn from the complete credibility collapse of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver. Through the lens of a century-old story involving telegraphs, horse racing, and mafia control, we explore how short-term incentives can quietly erode long-term trust, even for the most well-intentioned leaders. In this episode you will: Understand the 4 components of credibility every leader must master: honesty, competence, inspiration, and being...
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487 :: Why Working Harder Is Crippling Your Leadership: The Whiteout Paradox Explained
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Have you ever felt that the daily chaos of running your business has blinded you to the bigger picture? Are you watching other leaders struggle to extract themselves from working IN the business, instead of ON it? In this deeply personal and practical episode, Bradley Hartmann reveals the hidden leadership cost of being stuck in “whiteout conditions”—when the constant fires, deadlines, and endless demands cloud your vision. Whether you're an executive dealing with growth, silos, or burnout, this episode sheds light on a simple but powerful truth: the busier you...
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486 :: What Charlie Munger Says About AI
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
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 skeptical, curious, or somewhere in between, this episode will challenge how you lead in a rapidly changing tech landscape. In this episode you will: Understand the real risk of letting competitors outpace you with AI adoption Learn why...
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485 :: The Cost of Ignoring AI: How Leaders Risk Failing Their Teams
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
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. If you’ve been putting AI strategy on the back burner or assuming your IT team has it covered, you may be doing your company more harm than you think. Hear real-world examples of construction execs with vastly different tech backgrounds, yet the same...
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484 :: The Three Drivers of Accountability—Without Lectures, Promotions, or Threats—Proven On The Jobsite (and Seinfeld)
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Are your jobsite changes constantly resisted—even when they clearly make things better? If you're leading construction teams and struggle to get people to embrace new processes, it's not about laziness—it's about how humans are wired. This episode breaks down why convenience, status, and belonging drive every decision your team makes—and how to use that insight to lead better. In this episode, you will: Learn how to make the new way easier and the old way harder so your team actually adopts change. Discover leadership tactics that protect your crew’s status while still...
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483 :: How Charlie Munger’s Mental Models Help Build Smarter Construction Leaders
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
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 change, or making better decisions under pressure, this episode offers a rare blueprint to lead smarter without burning out. In this episode, you will: Discover Charlie Munger’s mental models to reduce...
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482 :: Four Leadership Books Every Construction Leader Needs to Build Trust, Drive Accountability, and Lead Change
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
Are you wasting time on leadership books that don’t actually help you lead better? If you’re a construction executive trying to lead high-performing teams and reduce firefighting, this episode delivers a practical shortcut. With thousands of leadership and self-help books published each year, how do you know which ones will actually make you a better leader? In this episode, Bradley Hartmans talks with publishing expert and author Todd Sattersten, who shares the 4 most valuable books every leader must read. In this episode you will: Discover the single best book...
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481 :: Managers are Disengaged and Undertrained: What Gallup and the 90s Dallas Cowboys Tell Us About Changing That
The Construction Leadership Podcast: Executive Strategies to Build Elite Teams & Consistently Deliver On-Time, Under Budget
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 reports, changing work-from-home expectations, and artificial intelligence, it’s never been harder—or more important—to engage and lead effectively. In this episode you will: • Learn why only 27% of managers...
info_outlineEpisode 461 features a candid conversation between Bradley Hartmann and Adam Kouri from DPR Construction, exploring leadership, personal growth, and team dynamics.
Listeners will gain insights into effective leadership strategies, including managing emotions under pressure, understanding "shadow behaviors," and building team health.
The discussion covers key leadership principles like treating people fairly but not identically, focusing on project success over individual wins, and creating an environment where team members want to work together again.
For construction professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders, this episode offers practical wisdom on navigating workplace relationships, personal development, and creating a positive team culture. Listeners will learn valuable lessons about self-reflection, conflict resolution, and the importance of continuous personal and professional growth.
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.
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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.