Why Every Project Needs a “Situation Room” In this episode, Jason Schroeder introduces a game-changing idea for modern construction: the Situation Room - a centralized command space to monitor, plan, and respond in real-time. Inspired by legendary builds like the Empire State Building and Boulder Dam, Jason makes the case for creating dedicated rooms where project leaders aren’t just reacting, they're orchestrating. From macro Takt plans and KPIs to 3D models and comms access, this isn’t just a conference room, it’s a&nbsp;mission control for your project. In this episode, you’ll discover:   What a Situation Room is (and what it’s not).   How it can radically reduce communication lag and improve flow.   Why this approach is essential for both in-person and remote project leadership.   The real-world tech setup and layout to make it work on-site.   &nbsp; If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you’ll never miss an episode.&nbsp; And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I’d appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). &nbsp; Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels: · Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel:  · LeanTakt YouTube Channel:  · LeanSuper YouTube Channel:  · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel:

Ep.1396 - Situation Rooms

The Secret to Skyrocketing Your Career? Stop Waiting for Permission. Too many construction professionals wait for their company to invest in their growth only to watch their careers stall. In this episode, Jason Schroeder sits down with master builder, mentor, and leadership coach&nbsp;Mark Story to flip that mindset on its head. Mark reveals why owning your own development&nbsp;whether through books, mentorship, or personal investment pays off in influence, salary, and career opportunities. You’ll hear:   How to mentor young superintendents so they’re confident, capable, and ready for leadership.   The “risk timeline and risk level” framework that tells you when to ask for help and when to push through.   Why trust is the bedrock of high-performing teams (and exactly how to build it).   The one challenge every construction professional should take on today to boost their skills and value.   Whether you’re leading crews, managing projects, or just starting out, this conversation will change the way you think about training, mentorship, and taking ownership of your future. Listen now. Your next big career leap starts here.   If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you’ll never miss an episode.&nbsp; And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I’d appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). &nbsp; Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels: · Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel:  · LeanTakt YouTube Channel:  · LeanSuper YouTube Channel:  · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel:

Ep.1403 - Training & Development, Feat. Mark Story

When doctors told John Kaufman there were no more treatment options, most people would have given up.&nbsp;John made a different choice. In this deeply moving and inspiring episode, Jason Schroeder talks with John about his 25-year journey living with an incurable cancer a journey filled with setbacks, unexpected blessings, and a daily decision to live fully, not just exist. You’ll hear:   The three mindsets people adopt after a life-changing diagnosis and the one that transforms everything.   How reframing your thoughts can turn fear into fuel for living.   Why community, small moments, and “blessings in disguise” matter more than ever.   A life-changing sunrise conversation with a stranger on a Maui beach.   The powerful question that every person healthy or not should ask themselves today.   Whether you’ve faced illness, loss, or simply the grind of everyday life, John’s story will challenge and inspire you to choose how you live… starting right now. Listen now&nbsp;and discover why living strong is a decision, not a condition.   If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you’ll never miss an episode.&nbsp; And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I’d appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). &nbsp; Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels: · Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel:  · LeanTakt YouTube Channel:  · LeanSuper YouTube Channel:  · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel:

Ep.1404 - Surviving Cancer, Feat. John Coffman

What if you could combine the strengths of CPM with the power of Takt without falling into the traps that derail most projects? In this episode, Jason breaks down exactly how to align Takt and CPM so they work together, not against each other. You’ll learn:   Why Takt should always come first as your production plan.   How to set up the deliverable and update cycles the right way.   What superintendents, trade partners, and owners should actually see.   The correct way to handle delays and keep projects legally covered without panic, overtime, or waste.   This is the roadmap for builders who want structure, flow, and clarity in their schedules. If you’ve ever wondered how to use CPM without letting it run your project, this episode will change the way you plan.&nbsp; &nbsp; Don’t just schedule build with flow. Listen now. &nbsp; If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you’ll never miss an episode.&nbsp; And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I’d appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). &nbsp; Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels: · Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel:  · LeanTakt YouTube Channel:  · LeanSuper YouTube Channel:  · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel:

Ep.1413 - Takt & CPM

What does it take to go from pushing brooms to leading as a superintendent in just a few years? In this episode, we sit down with Steven Shannon of Sky Blue Builders, alongside Kate Schroeder, to unpack the habits, systems, and mindset shifts that transformed his career and his life. Steven opens up about his path in construction, the power of mentorship, and how lessons from our Super PM Boot Camp changed the way he works and leads. From implementing self-care routines to mastering pull planning and meeting cadences, he shares how small changes created big results. But this conversation doesn’t shy away from the hard stuff. Steven gets real about mistakes that cost time and money and how his company’s culture of learning over punishment helped him grow stronger. Together, we explore why failure normalization matters, how to get teams to truly buy into new systems, and why rhythm not overexertion is the secret to sustainable success in construction. This is an honest, practical, and inspiring episode for anyone who wants to build better, lead better, and live better.    If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you’ll never miss an episode.&nbsp; And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I’d appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). &nbsp; Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels: · Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel:  · LeanTakt YouTube Channel:  · LeanSuper YouTube Channel:  · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel:

Ep.1414 - Developing Young Supers, Feat. Steven Shannon

In this episode, Jason dives deep into the Last Planner System not just to explain it, but to start building a clear, modern, and practical manual that actually works in today’s construction environment. Too many of the resources we rely on are the same ones published 10, 20, even 25 years ago. They haven’t kept up with the realities of flow, trade collaboration, and the integration of Takt planning. It’s time to change that. Here’s what we cover:   Why the Last Planner must be paired with Takt (not CPM) if you want accurate milestones and real trade flow.   The core meetings, deliverables, and behaviors that make the system succeed.   How to move beyond outdated “weekly work plans from scratch” and filter commitments from a real production plan.   Critical corrections we must make from how we track Percent Plan Complete, to when daily huddles should actually happen.   If you’re serious about implementing Last Planner the right way with respect for people, reliable commitments, and flow that works, this episode is for you. &nbsp; If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you’ll never miss an episode.&nbsp; And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I’d appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). &nbsp; Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels: · Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel:  · LeanTakt YouTube Channel:  · LeanSuper YouTube Channel:  · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel:

Ep.1416 - The Last Planner®️ System - Part 1

This episode wraps up our Last Planner series and sets the stage for a brand-new&nbsp;Last Planner Implementation Guide with real-world visuals and field-proven steps. Here’s what you’ll learn:  Why the classic “should–can–will–did” ladder fails and how to rebuild it with macro-level Takt so your plans are both realistic&nbsp;and reliable. How to structure work by zones, not dates, to shorten throughput time without fantasy durations. Why shielding and screening at the weekly level is already too late and what to do months earlier instead. The power of First Run Studies (done 3–6 weeks out) to guarantee crews only start what they can finish on time. How to use workable backlog as swing capacity for the train of trades keeping flow intact and crews productive. A clear line in the sand:&nbsp;why CPM can’t be your master schedule and what to use instead.  This isn’t just theory, it’s the foundation for a&nbsp;field-ready manual that teams can actually follow. If you’re serious about reliable promises, real flow, and project delivery that works, this episode is your blueprint. 👉 Hit play and close out the Last Planner series strong. &nbsp; If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you’ll never miss an episode.&nbsp; And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I’d appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). &nbsp; Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels: · Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel:  · LeanTakt YouTube Channel:  · LeanSuper YouTube Channel:  · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel:

Ep.1421 - The Last Planner®️ System - Part 4

In this episode, Jason uncovers why Japan’s lean revolution succeeded while the U.S. drifted away from the very principles it created. The answer lies in humility, respect for people, and the power of working as one united team. Inside this episode:   The forgotten U.S. production miracle of WWII and how Japan carried it forward.   Why humility after the war fueled Japan’s lean culture while America lost it.   How total participation transforms project sites from worker huddles to safety culture to trade partner alignment.   Why foreman meetings, visual systems, and zero-tolerance for chaos aren’t optional, they’re the foundation of flow.   The hard truth: Lean will never take root in construction until everyone participates.   If you’re tired of trades working in silos, projects bogged down by excuses, and the industry lagging behind manufacturing, this episode is your wake-up call. 👉 Hit play and discover how to build a jobsite culture where every crew, every trade, and every leader moves together because without total participation, there is no lean.   If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you’ll never miss an episode.&nbsp; And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I’d appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). &nbsp; Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels: · Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel:  · LeanTakt YouTube Channel:  · LeanSuper YouTube Channel:  · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel:

Ep.1422 - Total Participation

Projects rarely go wrong. They start wrong. In this punchy breakdown, Jason spotlights Adam Beanie’s framework and ties it to the builder’s code Never yield ground so you can protect finished work, keep control, and deliver.  The big miss: inadequate planning and starting before you’re ready. Leadership alignment: PM and superintendent in lockstep or the job suffers. Scope change creep: why phased design spins teams out and how to stop it. Scheduling truth: CPM confusion vs the rhythm and flow of Takt. Team capability: put the right people on the bus and skill them up. Incentives: how contracts drive behavior and how to align them. Risk and information: continuous risk scanning and real time updates to the field.  Clear. Applicable. Field ready. Press play, level up your next kickoff, and hold the ground you’ve earned.  If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you’ll never miss an episode.&nbsp; And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I’d appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). &nbsp; Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels: · Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel:  · LeanTakt YouTube Channel:  · LeanSuper YouTube Channel:  · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel:

Ep.1426 - The 12 Causes of Project Failure

Micromanagement gets blamed for everything. Jason pulls apart the viral advice and shows when close guidance is actually teaching, how capability and team stage change what leaders must do, and why meetings and details aren’t the enemy. It’s a frank reset on accountability, trust, and what real leadership looks like on the job.  When close guidance is right: explain, demonstrate, guide, enable. Forming and storming need more check-ins so work can move in short cycles. Meetings are the work when teams are not side-by-side. Details matter: tighten quality where it protects brand, clients, and safety. Never okay: stealing ideas or hogging credit. The better response: communicate, shorten iterations, build trust, and raise your own quality bar.  If you lead people, this episode gives you a clearer lens and practical moves you can use today.&nbsp;   If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you’ll never miss an episode.&nbsp; And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I’d appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). &nbsp; Also, here are links to our YouTube Channels: · Jason Schroeder YouTube Channel:  · LeanTakt YouTube Channel:  · LeanSuper YouTube Channel:  · LeanSurvey YouTube Channel:

New tracks tagged #FOREMAN