Everything is Too Complex - Until You Practice Enough

There is no question that construction is becoming more complex.

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Supply chains are more complex.  Technology is more complex. The world is becoming more complex.  We don’t do ourselves or others any favors by not coming to terms with that complexity.  

Leadership Tools: Everything is Too Complex Until You Practice Enough.

Simplification and streamlining should always be our goal.  We must get comfortable learning the complexities before we can work on simplification.  


“Seek first to understand, then to be understood.”

- Stephen R. Covey  | 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

“Often we don't need better ideas, we just need to frame them more effectively.  To describe something simply, you must really understand it deeply."

- Frances Frei


How would you answer the following questions yes or no?

  • I believe some processes and tools are too complicated in my company.  
  • I did my best today to deliberately practice using those process and tools.
      
  • I did my best today to improve and document new standards using the PDCA and 5S tools.
  • I did my best today to share what I learned by teaching someone else.  

If you answer those questions every day for a month what would your ratio be of yes vs. no?  

If your team answered them what would that ratio be? 




Lean Principle - Kaizen (Every Detail Matters)
As contractors build their businesses, it is important to look at every detail from the first meeting with a potential customer through winning and building the project. This same attention to detail also applies to supporting operations and talent.
Degree of Discretionary Time with Growth in Role Levels and Business Size
The degree of discretionary time that someone has in doing their job grows with their role level - for example from crafts person to VP of Operations. For similar roles, that time decreases with company growth as the job roles become more tightly defined.
Plan Ahead, Adjust Early, and Accelerate Recovery
Construction in any given industry sector or geographical area is a cyclical business. There are four major levers a contractor can pull to ensure the business performs well throughout all economic cycles.