loader from loading.io

Why Construction Companies Stop Growing—and How to Fix It

Construction Genius

Release Date: 07/01/2025

Public Speaking Without Fear: Practical Strategies for Construction Leaders Who Want to Influence and Inspire show art 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...

info_outline
How Construction Leaders Win by Playing Long-Term Games show art 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....

info_outline
Why This 21-Year-Old Chose Construction Over College (And Loves It) show art 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...

info_outline
The Hit Rate Revolution: Achieving 35-50% Win Rates and Doubling Revenue show art 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...

info_outline
Hire, Train, Retain: Proven Construction Hiring & Retention Strategies show art 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...

info_outline
The Window of Tolerance: Managing Your Nervous System Under Pressure show art 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...

info_outline
Mastering Strategic Shifts & Elite Project Management in Construction - Antonia Botero Returns show art 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...

info_outline
$15 to $12.8 Million: The Rainmaker’s Blueprint show art $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...

info_outline
The Truth About Succession Planning: Why Most Construction Companies Get It Wrong show art 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...

info_outline
If Your Construction Company Disappeared Tomorrow, Would Anyone Notice? show art 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_outline
 
More Episodes

Growth isn’t just about bigger projects or tighter timelines; it’s about developing leadership. When the leaders try to do everything themselves, struggle to delegate, or are unable to build trust within their teams, it often leads to hitting the ceiling. Emotional intelligence, intentional listening, and clarity of intent are essential in shaping high-performing teams. Building self-awareness, fighting the impostor syndrome, and leading through uncertainty might seem challenging at times, but it’s up to the leaders to decide which direction is best for your organization. 

Rachel Burr is an executive coach, author, speaker, leadership consultant, and people expert with over 20 years of experience and a unique blend of insight, action, and humor. Having an exceptional understanding of how people work inside out, Rachel collaborates with leaders who are experts in their fields but in need of help with the people part of the leadership. She helps to break down confusing issues related to people by listening with heart, mind, and empathy, and trained analytical skills. She joined us today to talk about why construction companies stopped growing and how to fix them. 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

[01:42] ‘Listening’ as a fundamental skill in leadership. 

[03:43] Managing emotional reactions in leadership. 

[09:30] The importance of clarity and building trust with a team. 

[12:38] The importance of being open to learn from mistakes.

[14:20] Emotional intelligence in construction. 

[17:46] The alignment between intent and delivery. 

[25:24] Challenges of overcoming the impostor syndrome. 

[29:46] The disadvantages of not listening. 

[36:48] Letting go to grow. 

[39:16] How to ask powerful questions? 

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  1. Instead of hearing, listen to understand. 

  2. Stop trying to pretend you’re always logical, expect the emotions will show up. 

  3. In times of chaos, trust is what keeps a team steady. Build trust before the storm.

  4. Leadership isn’t about perfection. Make the best decision you can, learn from it, and keep moving forward. 

  5. Saying the right thing the wrong way can still do damage. Own your delivery, share your intent. 

  6. Remember that impostor syndrome is common among leaders. Treat it as a sign of pushing the boundaries, not failing. 

 

RESOURCES

Connect with Rachel Burr

LinkedIn – linkedin.com/in/rachelmburr/ 

Website - catamentum.com/ 

 

Butterfly Goo: The Down and Dirty Truth of Transformation

Rachel Burr

amazon.com/Butterfly-Goo-Dirty-Truth-Transformation/dp/B0DZD8MLQY 

 

90-Day High-Performance Dashboard

You can't afford to let your people drift.

To drive real performance, you must coach with clarity and purpose.

 

Use the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard to:

  • Get clear on what matters most.

  • Drive focused action and accountability.

  • Strengthen trust and deepen relationships.

 

Success doesn't happen by accident.

It happens when leaders coach with precision and consistency.

Download the 90-Day High-Performance Dashboard here: https://www.constructiongenius.com/high-performance-in-a-new-role

Coach your team toward real results — one conversation at a time.

 

 

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
If this episode hit home, share it with your sales team. And don’t forget to leave a review—it helps more construction leaders find Construction Genius!