The Human Foundation: How a Construction Executive Learned to Build Teams, Not Just Structures
Release Date: 04/08/2025
Public Speaking Without Fear: Practical Strategies for Construction Leaders Who Want to Influence and Inspire
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Public speaking isn’t just about talking; it’s about influencing, connecting, and leaving a mark that lasts long after the last word is spoken. Most people find public speaking daunting, but does it have to be that way? Public speaking is one of the biggest challenges for people no matter the industry. Some people are natural-born speakers. The others, not so much. In this episode of the Construction Genius podcast, Eric is joined by John Zalepka, a seasoned public speaking coach, to explore practical strategies to overcome fear, move beyond overconfidence, and connect with the...
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How Construction Leaders Win by Playing Long-Term Games
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True success comes from playing the long-term game, prioritizing relationships, skills, and trust that build over time. However, professionals often struggle with short-term thinkers, unnecessary interruptions, and guilt over leadership roles. In this episode, Eric sits down with Luca Dellana, an independent consultant and bestselling author who helps companies develop their people and solve complex organizational challenges. Together, they analyze the importance of defining your own game, building business relationships, balancing saying ‘yes’ and ‘no’ early in your career, and more....
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Why This 21-Year-Old Chose Construction Over College (And Loves It)
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In this week’s episode, our guest is 21-year-old Gabe Sotello, who is a steel framer and drywall hanger. Gabe shares his journey from trade school to the job site while offering us an honest picture of the challenges, culture, and opportunities in construction. He also explains his decision to choose trade school over college, adapting with humility, and the need to be an open-minded novice who will learn, absorb, and adjust quickly. With practical advice on work ethic, communication, and finding the right trade early, Gabe is here to give a real-world roadmap to young people in finding...
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The Hit Rate Revolution: Achieving 35-50% Win Rates and Doubling Revenue
Construction Genius
In a field like construction, where sales are complex, high-stakes, and often misunderstood, success depends less on competition on pricing and more on strategic engagement, early involvement, and paying attention and understanding the needs of the client. Meet Matthew Neuberger, a prominent figure in the business world who is an expert in business development, specializing in executive sales consultation and sales productivity training. As a dynamic presenter and trainer, he helps industry leaders to articulate successful management, sales, and prospecting strategies. Focusing on...
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Hire, Train, Retain: Proven Construction Hiring & Retention Strategies
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Struggling to find—and keep—the right people in your construction business? You’re not alone. In today’s episode of Construction Genius, Eric sits down with Mike, creator of the XP3 Talent System, to unpack a proven, end-to-end process for hiring, onboarding, and retaining top talent in one of the most competitive industries on the planet. You’ll discover: Why most “business problems” are really people problems—and how to solve them at the root. The fatal flaw in relying on gut instinct to hire construction talent. How to define success in a role so you can hire with...
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The Window of Tolerance: Managing Your Nervous System Under Pressure
Construction Genius
Leadership development can take two distinct types: horizontal and vertical. Horizontal growth targets on adding new skills, knowledge, and competencies broadening what a leader can do. Vertical development, on the other hand, alters how a leader thinks, perceives, and responds. This enables leaders to handle complexity, stress, and uncertainty by increasing maturity, emotional regulation, and perspective. While horizontal development can make a leader more capable in the short term, vertical growth boosts their ability to inspire and create lasting value. However, to achieve sustainable...
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Mastering Strategic Shifts & Elite Project Management in Construction - Antonia Botero Returns
Construction Genius
Welcome back to another powerhouse episode of Construction Genius! Today, we welcome back industry expert and owner of MADD Project, Antonia Botero. Antonia returns to provide crucial insights on two vital topics for every construction leader: Strategic Adaptation and Project Management Excellence. In this episode, you’ll discover: How to Build a Robust Construction Strategy: Evaluating your construction firm's strategic positioning—high value vs. high volume. Making critical decisions about project scale and niching to maintain competitive advantage. Effective ways to pivot your...
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$15 to $12.8 Million: The Rainmaker’s Blueprint
Construction Genius
In the fiercely competitive world of construction, a handful of people stand out as genuine rainmakers—those uniquely gifted individuals who seem able to summon success and profitability from seemingly nowhere. Roger Leasure, President and CEO of , is precisely that kind of leader. In this episode of Construction Genius, which ranks among my top five all-time favorites, Roger reveals how he transformed a simple $15 investment into a staggering $12.8 million project. He dives deep into the core principles of genuine business development, sharing practical strategies that go far beyond...
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The Truth About Succession Planning: Why Most Construction Companies Get It Wrong
Construction Genius
Succession planning isn’t just about naming someone to be the successor; it’s about ensuring that your business can thrive after you. In this episode, Eric appears as the guest of “The Construction Hall of Fame” podcast and shares his wisdom on succession planning, the blind spots that trip up the construction leaders, keeping your top talent from walking out of the door, and the importance of starting an early succession plan. Whether you are already thinking about your succession plan or years away from stepping down, this conversation will guide you to get started with confidence...
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If Your Construction Company Disappeared Tomorrow, Would Anyone Notice?
Construction Genius
Most construction companies claim they “do great work and have strong relationships.” But if your business vanished tomorrow, would anyone really notice—or care? In this episode of Construction Genius, I sit down with Justin Bieganek, founder of Mercury Creative Group, to unpack what branding really means for construction companies—and why it’s about a lot more than your logo or website. If you're frustrated with being treated like a commodity, constantly undercut on price, or struggling to attract the right people to join your team—your brand might be the problem. And the good...
info_outlineEffective leadership is about more than just navigating teams to success. It involves building trust, clear communication, and emotional intelligence. Influential leaders set clear expectations, provide necessary coaching, and focus on finding solutions during challenging times. Furthermore, they identify and value the importance of personal well-being and embrace practices to manage stress and maintain a positive mindset, which leads to a supportive, high-performing organizational culture.
Johnathan Peavy brings 20 years of experience building complex facilities to his role as operations manager for Robins & Morton, a national leader in healthcare construction. As executive of the Miami—Fort Lauderdale office, Peavy oversees projects at eight medical campuses in South Florida, with contracts totaling more than $1 billion. With a background in civil engineering, Peavy’s cross-discipline expertise makes him a unique asset to the construction process, and he takes pride in knowing the healthcare facilities under his purview have a lasting impact on the community. Peavy is a graduate of Auburn University and holds multiple credentials, including LEED AP and USACE CQM-C designations. He joined us today to talk about the importance of trust, accountability, and vulnerability in leadership to build teams.
HIGHLIGHTS
[00:43] Johnathan’s background and career journey.
[06:13] The balance between maintaining a family-like atmosphere and pushing for high-performance.
[10:22] Johnathan explains how he handle the loss of his mentor and the challenges of taking over.
[15:17] Johnathan’s approach to managing internal conflicts.
[18:27] The shift of mindset from handling individual projects to overseeing multiple projects.
[21:00] The importance of collaboration and communication.
[27:02] The importance of being open and direct during difficult conversations.
[30:08] Johnathan explains the importance of structure, balance, and self-care in managing a busy day.
[34:34] Presenting opportunities for improvement.
[38:32] Advice for leaders who are stepping into senior roles.
[44:01] The importance of vulnerability and emotional management in leadership.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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Set clear expectations and define what success look like for both the individual and the company.
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Be open and vulnerable with your team, especially when faced with tough circumstances.
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Take time to meet with team members with all levels and show that you value their contributions.
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Shift from control to influence when handling a larger team.
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Start with clear communication by discussing expectations from the very beginning.
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Be direct and open when facing difficult conversations.
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Provide chances to improve employee performance before deciding to part ways.
RESOURCES
Connect with Johnathan Peavy
LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/johnathan-peavy-leed-ap-66a1429
Website – robinsmorton.com/
Instagram - instagram.com/robinsmorton/