Ep. 1380 - “Play Ball” Orders
Elevate Construction
“Play Ball!” – What General Patton Can Teach Us About Project Readiness. In this episode, Jason Schroeder shares a powerful story from WWII and how it directly applies to construction leadership today. You’ll learn how General Patton’s rapid response during the Battle of the Bulge wasn’t just history, it’s a blueprint for operational excellence on modern jobsites. 🔑 Inside this episode: Why waiting isn’t the same as being ready. How to write “Play Ball” orders that trigger instant action. What real pre-construction preparedness should look like. How West...
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Ep. 1379 - PMs & Nauseating Perfection
Elevate Construction
When Perfection Gets in the Way of Progress, A Wake-Up Call for PMs. Let’s get real: some project managers confuse control with value. In this episode Jason Schroeder calls out the all-too-common trap of nauseating perfection where PMs overprocess, nitpick, and stall teams in the name of looking polishe but not actually building with excellence. Inside this episode: Why over-perfection is waste, not leadership. How credentials and certifications mean nothing without execution. The difference between aesthetic checklists and real project outcomes. Why great builders simplify, reduce,...
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Ep. 1378 - Don’t Cut the Passion in your Pixar Planning & Reviews
Elevate Construction
Passionless Projects Fail. Don’t Let Yours Be One of Them. In construction, critique is essential but cutting out the heart of a project in the name of safety or consensus? That’s how you kill innovation. In Episode 1378 of the Elevate Construction Podcast, Jason Schroeder draws a bold parallel between Pixar’s recent failure with Elio and what’s happening on too many job sites: over-sanitized planning, zero boldness, and teams afraid to lead with vision. Tune in to hear: Why PPC (Percent Plan Complete) is overrated and what actually drives performance. How over-engineering...
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Ep. 1377 - Ego-driven Fools
Elevate Construction
This episode pulls no punches. Jason Schroeder breaks down a hard truth in the construction world, some superintendents are sabotaging themselves and their teams by clinging to outdated habits, sloppy leadership, and inflated egos. He’s not calling out individuals he’s calling out the persona that holds this industry back. You’ll hear: The brutal contrast between Ego-Driven Fools vs. Superintendents 2.0 & 3.0. Real-life examples of toxic leadership and why it fails. 10 clear traits of ego-driven behavior (and how Jason admits to struggling with a few himself). Actionable...
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Ep. 1376 - Toxic Cultures on both Sides
Elevate Construction
Toxic Culture vs. Healthy Accountability. Where’s the Line? Not all dissent is healthy. Not all questions are constructive. In this episode, Jason Schroeder takes on one of the most nuanced leadership challenges in construction today: How do you build a psychologically safe culture without letting toxic behaviors grow in the shadows? In this episode, Jason dives into: The fine line between speaking up and sabotaging culture. Why “shadow leadership” and gossip can silently erode trust. A list of 20 toxic workplace behaviors every leader must watch for. How to protect your team’s...
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Ep.1375 - The Power of “Thank You”, Feat. Mark Story
Elevate Construction
What if the most powerful leadership move on your jobsite isn’t a schedule update or a safety briefing but a heartfelt thank you? In this episode, Mark Story returns to unpack the often-overlooked superpower of appreciation in construction. From walking jobsites with intention to catching workers doing something right, Mark shares real stories that prove how gratitude changes culture, boosts morale, and builds unstoppable crews. Jason and Mark also dive into:✅ Soft skills that separate real leaders from seagulls.✅ The daily rituals that build trust and loyalty.✅ How a two-word phrase...
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Ep.1374 - Cutting Resources
Elevate Construction
When the project starts slipping and leadership refuses to plan, what do you do? In this raw, honest episode, Jason responds to a powerful message from a superintendent in Brazil caught in the middle of a $1M project with zero systems and a PM who believes planning is the problem. What follows is a masterclass in field leadership, mental resilience, and how to lead up when everything feels like it’s falling apart. You'll hear: A clear, step-by-step strategy to get ANY project back on track. What to do right now when there’s waste, rework, and no plan in sight. Why “just figure...
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Ep.1373 - Training Resources for Field Engineers
Elevate Construction
Just made the leap into a superintendent role? Feeling like you're drinking from a firehose? You’re not alone and this episode is for you. Jason Schroeder answers a powerful listener message from a newly promoted superintendent who’s going from carpenter to commercial GC leader. If you're stepping into leadership in construction (or helping someone who is), this episode lays out the exact resources and habits you need to thrive fast. You’ll hear: A full breakdown of free tools, templates, books, and boards for field engineers and supers. The one mindset shift that turns learning into...
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Ep.1372 - Dismemberment Engineering
Elevate Construction
We say value engineering. But what we’re actually doing? Design amputation. In this short but fiery episode, Jason Schroeder exposes the ugly truth behind how most construction teams gut their designs under the false flag of "VE." This isn’t about optimizing systems or delivering value it’s dismemberment engineering, plain and simple. You’ll hear: Why traditional "value engineering" is a lie we’ve all accepted. The brutal consequences of siloed design and reactive budgeting. What true value engineering looks like (spoiler: it starts before drawings are finished). A...
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Ep.1371 - The Big Difference between a Path of Critical Flow and a Critical Path
Elevate Construction
Let’s be real. “critical path” thinking is destroying your jobsite. In this punchy, no-BS episode, Jason Schroeder breaks down the dangerous myth of the critical path and introduces something far more powerful: the Path of Critical Flow. You’ll hear: Why “knowing the critical path” is actually making you push, panic, and waste time. The brutal truth about crashing schedules (and how it hurts, not helps). The smarter way to plan using buffers, flow, and sequencing. How to spot bottlenecks and fix them without burning out your team. A hilariously sharp analogy involving...
info_outlineEver feel like your team is sprinting straight into a wall?
In this thought-provoking episode, Jason Schroeder breaks down why rushing without clearing roadblocks is one of the most dangerous habits in construction. Using a powerful analogy (spoiler: it involves smashing into walls), Jason challenges one of the most common misapplications of the Last Planner System and percent plan complete (PPC).
Discover how a simple language problem—calling everything a “constraint”—is wrecking your team’s ability to plan, prioritize, and stay safe. If you’ve ever been frustrated with chaotic boards, missed milestones, or wasted effort, this is the podcast that will shift your thinking for good.
Ready to stop running into walls and start leading with clarity?
Hit play now.
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Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels:
· Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xpRYvrW5Op5Ckxs4vDGDg
· LeanTakt YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/leanTakt
· LeanSuper YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzQDevqQP19L4LePuqma3Fg/featured
· LeanSurvey YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ztn3okFhyB_3p5nmMKnsw