Managing Risk, Money, and Most Important Relationships with James Glass (Episode 71)

In this episode of The Lean Builder’s Hoots on the Ground podcast, we get to know James Glass with Turner Construction out of the Dallas, TX office. James started in the industry as a laborer, and he has learned much from his time supporting The Boy Scouts of America. He is still involved to this day without having children or grandchildren involved. His 40+ year career path in the construction industry took him from a laborer to a senior superintendent running large-scale work.

James gives his advice on the best path to get started in the construction industry in today’s market! James takes us down his personal Lean Construction journey—both positive and negative. He talks about how Lean failed on his first project but by continuing to apply Lean, the process and principles have benefitted his career tremendously. James makes the statement, “You cannot force the project to fit Lean, you must modify Lean to make Lean fit the project.” He gives some great tips on how to get Lean moving forward quickly on your project, especially on your first attempt.

Many of the best aspects of Lean thinking are actions or ideas that he has been doing for a while, but now with Lean, he has words for the process or tool. Being able to have a common language with other superintendents helps make his processes better. James dives into how Lean is much more than the Last Planner System®. James practices and uses the Lean tools but refuses to use the Japanese word of Ohno Circle; instead, he refers to these as the Observation Circle.

James talks about how patience and respect are key to getting things done but also knows the days when you must speak up and be more direct. Lean is one tool to help people change (and embrace change) on construction projects. James talks about how we only must manage three things in construction: money, risk, and relationships.

James talks about how the old-school, traditional way of thinking stays right on his shoulder and how it still takes effort today to bottle that up and find a better way. A great episode for anyone trying to convert an old-school, traditional-thinking superintendent!

 

ABOUT HOOTS ON THE GROUND PODCAST:

The Lean Builder’s absolutely, positively NO Bullshido podcast. Join Host Adam Hoots and his guests as they dig deep into the topics that are relevant to those of us who “get it”: the men and women with the dirty boots, the ones who work in the field, doing the hands-on business of construction each day. Listen in as we keep it real while stories from the trenches are shared along with lessons learned and some laughter along the way.

 

RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:

·        www.theleanbuilder.com | Our main blog, book, resources, news & events website

 

GUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:

·        Adam Hoots | www.linkedin.com/in/adam-hoots-4645519/ | Podcast Host for “Hoots on the Ground” and Lean Construction Shepherd with ConstructionACHEsolutions

·        James Glass | https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-glass-91b13318/ | Senior Project Superintendent with Turner Construction Company