AI Without the B.S.: Sharpen Proposals, Cut Rework, Win More Work — Fast
Release Date: 04/22/2025
Public Speaking Without Fear: Practical Strategies for Construction Leaders Who Want to Influence and Inspire
Construction Genius
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
Construction Genius
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)
Construction Genius
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
Construction Genius
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_outlineThis episode offers a practical roadmap for leaders aiming to integrate AI while enhancing judgment, collaboration, and decision-making in construction!
Luca Dellanna, a management advisor and bestselling author, discusses the real-world applications of artificial intelligence (AI) in the construction industry. Luca emphasizes how AI can streamline operations by reducing errors, minimizing rework, and improving planning efficiency. The discussion explores using general-purpose AI tools like ChatGPT, with Luca advocating their accessibility and value for key personnel involved in project planning and proposal development.
Furthermore, Luca delves into AI's role in enhancing clarity, acting as a "sounding board" for ideas, and helping with pre-mortem analysis to anticipate project failures. Luca shares strategies for crafting effective AI prompts, drawing parallels between prompt engineering and team delegation. He also tackles privacy concerns and advises trusting reputable vendors and anonymizing sensitive data.
The conversation rounds out with insights on using AI for negotiation prep, meeting summaries, and internal documentation, stressing the importance of human oversight. Looking ahead, Luca underscores the need for companies to future-proof their workforce by developing AI literacy and sharing best practices.
HIGHLIGHTS
[02:07] Integrating AI in Construction
[04:56] Identifying Key Areas for AI Integration
[06:42] Creating Effective AI Prompts
[12:15] Addressing Privacy Concerns with AI
[14:04] Using AI for Pre-Mortem Analysis
[16:52] AI's Role in Replacing Workers vs. Improving Judgment
[23:25] Future-Proofing Workforce with AI Skills
[25:45] AI in Negotiation and Meeting Summaries
KEY TAKEAWAYS
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Leverage tools like ChatGPT to reduce blind spots and improve clarity in job planning and bid writing.
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Write detailed prompts with clear goals and success metrics to get more useful AI responses.
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Ask AI to simulate project failures and identify risks before starting.
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Use AI to draft meeting notes, then review for accuracy and add key details.
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Teach staff to prompt effectively and share AI best practices across your company to future-proof your workforce.
RESOURCES:
Connect with Luca Dellanna:
Luca on X: @DellAnnaLuca
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dellannaluca/
Website: luca-dellanna.com/
Mentioned in the episode:
The simpler way to get your team to use AI: luca-dellanna.com/posts/ai-faster-adoption
Never Split the Difference: amazon.com/Never-Split-Difference-Negotiating-Depended
Restaurant Recommendation: http://lnx.plinetajarin.it/
Resources to Help You Win in Construction
📖 Construction Genius Book – No B.S., practical, hands-on leadership, strategy, sales, and marketing advice for construction companies. Click this link to buy the book on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Construction-Genius-Effective-Hands-Leadership/dp/B0BHTRDY1T/
🎯 The Shift: Move from Project Builder to People Leader – Master the leadership skills you need to succeed in construction. Click this link to learn more and enroll: https://theshift.constructiongenius.com
☎️ Book a 10-Minute Call with Eric Anderton – If you want to discuss how I can help you coach your leaders, let’s connect. Book a 10-minute conversation here: https://10minutes.youcanbook.me
🎧 Subscribe & Share
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