Elevate Construction Ep.1479 - Japan Series - Keeping Commitments
Nov 25, 2025
Discover how light-hearted commitments lead to project chaos. Learn about the Japanese concept of yakusoku, emphasizing promises as moral bonds that can improve productivity. Explore the stark contrast between casual Western attitudes and Japan's honor-based culture of commitments. Find out why it’s crucial to be upfront when you can’t keep a promise and how missed commitments impact the entire team. This insight will help you foster a culture of accountability and respect in your projects.
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Commitment As A Moral Bond
- Jason Schroeder frames yakusoku as a commitment that is a moral bond, not just a plan.
- Breaking a promise dumps a burden on others and destroys trust and flow on a project.
No-Show Crew Destroys A Day
- Jason gives a construction example where a trade partner's missing workers break a schedule and affect forty other trades.
- Missing commitments ripple into massive disruption across a job site.
Yes Means Yes
- Jason contrasts Western casual yes-culture with Japanese precision where a yes means commitment.
- In Japan a non-yes functions as a no until a true yes is given.
