Construction Curiosities #75
Visible Leadership | Israel's Contech Ecosystem | Moving Picture Memes
Hey! Happy Saturday! Matt here.
Welcome to the Construction Curiosities newsletter! And a special welcome to the 27 new subscribers this week!
This weekly Newsletter explores my Curiosities about the Construction Industry. It's meant to make you think, smile, and become a better, more thoughtful Construction Professional.
Maybe you leave learning something.
Maybe you leave entertained.
Maybe you leave inspired.
Maybe you leave and never come back.
Summary
This week we will look at:
One Guest Article: Visible Leadership
One Article: Israel’s Contech Ecosystem
One Meme: Field Crew vs. PM Arrival Time
One Guest Article
This week’s guest article comes from the most interesting construction man on LinkedIn, Jesse Hernandez.
You might remember Jesse from CM Mentors # 21 - “Do the Damn Thing.”
Jesse is one of those guys that I chat with on a fairly regular basis and every time I do, I’m left feeling like I want to run through the wall and go change the world for the better.
His new challenge shall be no different!
Take it away Jesse!
Visible Leadership 👀
🚨 Breaking News!!! 🚨
The construction industry is facing a labor shortage!!!!!
You’re thinking one of two things:
No shit sherlock
Or
Here we go again
All the “talk” about recruiting differently, making the industry sexy, and so on is cool but what I see is a recipe for compounding production loss and increasing construction costs for owners.
It’s very much like sending someone down the manhole to check on the first guy who's gone silent. But you haven’t checked the air quality. Every person you send down there is gonna go silent.
Not a good idea.
So how about instead of just bringing in new people we do something for the people we currently have?
How about we start building real connections with the men and women out there building the buildings?
I am going to make a prediction to the Yeti nation:
I predict that the leaders who systematically demonstrate appreciation for everyone that walks on their jobsite are going to smash the competition.
I have seen it firsthand. I’ve seen a massive group of electricians turn down a weekly stipend, on top of their wages, to leave one project for another. They told me the reason they stayed was because they knew the other GC and that GC treats people like garbage. They felt appreciated on their current project and that was worth more than all the cash they were offered.
Are you thinking: But how the hell do you go around making everyone “feel” appreciated? We have a ton of work, meetings, e-mails, and now you want me to “demonstrate appreciation” to every damn person on site?
Well, you don’t have to. You can wait until you’re left in the dust by the leaders who do.
But if you see the same future I do, you know you can’t do it alone. So if you’re ready to make the change one pair of boots at a time. I have a cheat code for you, it’s super easy, and no experience is necessary:
Block out 20 minutes to meet someone new. Go out there where the work is happening, introduce yourself to a craft person, and learn a little something about them. And do this on a regular cadence.
If you like a challenge and are up for multiplying your connections with the workforce sign up for the free Visible Leadership e-mail course.
The 5 field assignments will equip you with a new and super repeatable way to address the labor shortage by valuing the people we currently have.
Thanks Jesse for all you’re doing to make the jobsite a better place!
I’ve seen it first hand how much of an impact it can make when you get to know the guys & gals out there actually building the building. General Contractors, Architects, Owners, etc don’t build buildings. It’s those out there swinging hammers and turning wrenching. Let’s stop treating them like 2nd class citizens.
If you want to catch Jesse on the interwebs (like he’d say) check him out here:
LinkedIn - Facebook - Instagram - TikTok - YouTube
Visible Leadership E-mail Course
Jesse has also gifted the Construction Yeti Nation with a couple discount offers to his services.
Use coupon code MATT for 20% off either (or both) of these awesome programs:
Virtual Sweat Equity Improvement - Improve production by making work easier
Emotional Bungee Jumpers - Learn how to build connections and become a better listener
I’m always looking for more Guest Articles!
Want to be featured in an upcoming Newsletter and have your article Gif-ified by yours truly? Shoot me an email at matt@constructionyeti.com. And let’s do it!
One Article
How Israel’s startup culture powers contech innovation
by Matthew Thibault, Construction Dive
I’ve had the honor of meeting a couple Contech folks from Israel over the last year and a half. I didn’t realize how much of a hotbed it was for startups until then.
This article gives a good glimpse into what that ecosystem looks like. Or at least what it looked like pre-war. It’ll be interesting to see how it all settles out and how/ if it recovers once this war is eventually over.
One Meme
Maybe its true… but as a former subcontractor PM, I’ll tell you we are still there working (in the quiet) when the crews checked out at 3pm.
Let me know. Do you like picture or video memes better? Cause I got a lot more where that one came from.
Video!
Nice work my brother!