Elevate Construction

What if real leadership isn't about telling people to "figure it out," but about standing beside them until they can? In this episode, Jason shares a powerful lesson from Japan, the art of working shoulder to shoulder. At Toyota, leaders don't throw people into the fire; they train through presence, patience, and partnership. From field mistakes to family moments, Jason reveals how true Lean teaching means Explain, Demonstrate, Guide, Enable not abandon. If you've ever wanted faster learning, fewer errors, and teams that trust each other, this episode will change how you lead, train, and build. Listen in and discover why "shoulder to shoulder" may be the most human Lean principle of all. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). 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

What if lean wasn't just about reducing waste on paper but about learning to feel waste in your gut? In Japan, there's a word for that: Mottainai - "What a waste." It's more than regret. It's respect, for people, nature, and resources. In this episode, Jason dives into how this simple mindset can reshape construction culture. From right-sizing and pre-cutting materials to eliminate 32% of jobsite waste, to the story of his father building a full barn from discarded lumber, and Paul Akers cleaning a plane bathroom out of gratitude not obligation, this is lean at its most human. You'll see how the smallest acts of respect can transform waste into value, chaos into care, and jobsites into communities that build with purpose. If you've ever looked at a half-full dumpster and thought, there has to be a better way, this episode is for you. Listen in and rediscover why nothing good should ever be wasted. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). 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

Forget calendar invites and polite excuses, the real culture killer in construction is breaking your word. In Japan, it's called yakusoku, a promise you bind yourself to keep. In this episode, Jason shares a true story that reveals how honoring commitments transforms crews, schedules, and trust across every level of a project. This isn't about being rigid, it's about building flow, safety, and respect by letting yes mean yes. Jason also introduces shingi, the duty to act with sincerity and uphold your word, connecting it to Last Planner handoffs, trade reliability, and leadership integrity. If you lead people, plan work, or set the tone for your team, this episode will remind you that our word is the foundation of trust, alignment, and lasting excellence. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). 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

Forget overpriced tech and shiny new apps, the real inefficiency in construction isn't a lack of innovation, it's a lack of value. In Japan, Jason discovered the concept of Cospa, the ratio of what you pay to what you truly get. And it changed everything. Jason exposes how greed, inflated pricing, and "get-rich" business models are crippling progress across our industry. From drones and 360° cameras to scheduling software, he shows how companies chasing investors instead of impact are killing flow, limiting access, and draining project budgets. If you believe technology should serve builders not bankrupt them, this episode will reset how you think about cost, performance, and purpose. It's time to bring Cospa to construction and demand real value for the price we pay. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). 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

The real waste in construction might surprise you—it's not materials or slow crews, but toxic conflict and misalignment within the culture. The obsession with winning undermines cooperation and harms not just projects, but entire nations. Highlighting detrimental behaviors like bullying and prideful ignorance, the discussion emphasizes the need for total participation and respect among all partners. Transforming from profit-focused to people-centered companies is essential for future success in the industry.

What's really holding construction back, the lack of tech, or the lack of truth? In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Jason sits down again with Charles McKenna to take on some of the hardest questions in the industry: Why are we so slow to adopt technology? Why do so many tools make life harder instead of easier? And how did we go from the most productive generation in history to one that's proud not to learn? This is not your typical "innovation in construction" talk. Jason and Charles dig into: Why software companies are chasing investors instead of improvement. How America's "money first" mindset is destroying quality. The myth of "too many apps" and why refusing to learn is killing growth. The real reason behind the trades shortage (and it's not what you think). Why general contractors, not trades, hold the key to fixing the system. Jason pulls no punches. From tech burnout to cultural decline, from immigration policy to jobsite respect, this episode challenges every leader to face the uncomfortable truth: we've lost our discipline to learn, our courage to stop bad systems, and our respect for people. If you care about the future of construction, this is the conversation you can't afford to skip. Listen now. Get uncomfortable. Get inspired. And start building better. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). 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

What if the smartest move on your project wasn't pushing harder but stopping? In this episode, Jason dives deep into one of the most powerful and most misunderstood Lean principles from Japan: Stop, Call, Wait. Born from the Toyota Production System, this practice teaches that when something feels even slightly off, you stop the line, call your team, and wait until it's fixed before any defect moves forward. It's the opposite of Western "push through" culture and Jason doesn't hold back on why that mindset is breaking our projects, burning out our people, and burying us in rework. Through stories from Japan, lessons from Toyota, and real construction examples, you'll learn: Why "pushing through" costs you 100x more than stopping early. How to build a culture where people don't fear stopping the line. The connection between Stop, Call, Wait and not blaming people. Why loving your workers, truly loving them is the foundation of Lean leadership. This episode will challenge how you think about productivity, accountability, and leadership on the jobsite. Because real excellence doesn't come from speed, it comes from the courage to stop, fix, and protect your people and your process. Stop the line. Call your team. Wait until it's right. That's how we build remarkable. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). 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

The Power of Point and Call: Mastering the Last 5% Most of us start strong but fall short in the final stretch. What if the secret to excellence isn't doing more, but finishing better? In this episode, Jason shares a life-changing lesson from Japan's rail system the "Point and Call" method. It's a simple habit that trains your brain to see, speak, and complete every task with precision. From construction sites to your daily routines, this one practice can eliminate errors, build discipline, and lock in the dopamine hit of finishing well. Jason breaks down how the Point and Call helps crews close loops, leaders strengthen flow, and individuals build pride in their work, the "last five percent" that separates average from remarkable. If you've ever struggled to follow through, this episode will change how you think about completion forever. Listen now and learn to finish what you start. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). 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

Everybody wants instant pudding. But real improvement? That takes time. In this Japan Series episode, Jason breaks down one of the most misunderstood truths about lean: it's not a quick fix, it's a lifelong evolution. Through stories of Japanese temple builders who plan 200 years ahead, and lessons from Deming and Toyota, Jason explains why lasting excellence doesn't come from one big "revolution," but from consistent, long-term commitment to improvement. Still, there's a catch. Before you can evolve, you have to start on the right foundation. That means installing the right operating systems, Takt, Last Planner, and First Planner, fast and decisively. Revolution builds the baseline. Evolution keeps it growing. If you lead a construction company or project and you're ready to build something that actually lasts, this episode will show you how to do it. Listen now and start playing the long game. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). 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

If one person on your team is off, your whole team is off. In this Japan Series episode, Jason unpacks the powerful lesson from Mr. Yabe, the leader behind the Shinkansen's "Seven-Minute Miracle." His message? If 100 people give their best but one person doesn't, the team's effectiveness drops to zero. Through stories from Japanese rail crews and real construction projects, Jason explains why great culture isn't built instead of rewards and swag, it's built through them. Talk to your people, care about them, give them pride in their work and cool tools, recognition, and shared wins. The key is total participation. Because if you have 100 team members minus one, you don't have 99, you have zero. Listen now and learn how strong cultures lift everyone, together. If you like the Elevate Construction podcast, please subscribe for free and you'll never miss an episode. And if you really like the Elevate Construction podcast, I'd appreciate you telling a friend (Maybe even two 😊). 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