Bridging the Gap Between Military and Construction Expertise
In the world of construction, leadership is a crucial element that often gets overlooked. However, Patrick Nelson, a former military officer and the founder of Loyalty Point Leadership, is on a mission to change that. In this insightful conversation with host Ron Nussbaum, they explore the parallels between the military and the construction industry and uncover the key traits that make a true "Construction Champion."
The Essence of Construction Leadership
According to Patrick, a construction champion is not just someone who is technically proficient in their job, but also someone who possesses strong leadership skills and behaviors. He emphasizes that while we may manage things like data, processes, equipment, and schedules, the true art lies in leading people.
"We manage things, data processes, equipment, schedules, projects, but you lead people," Patrick explains. "And when we can have somebody that can do both, that right there, in my opinion, it's a construction champion."
Lessons from the Military
Patrick draws upon his military experience to highlight the similarities between the two industries. He notes that just like the military, the construction industry has a clear hierarchy, with different colored hard hats designating various roles and responsibilities.
However, he emphasizes that true leadership is not exclusive to those in positions of authority. "In the military, we can still find leaders at the lowest levels, and they're not in charge of anything," he says. "It's not like, 'Now you got promoted, now you have people under you, now we need you to be empathetic, now we need you to be a good listener.' Those are skills and behaviors that I firmly believe, regardless of what your position or title is, everybody can embrace and develop with the right skills and experience."
Overcoming the "Authority Trap"
Patrick acknowledges that the construction industry, much like the military, can sometimes fall into the trap of equating leadership with authority. He cautions against this mindset, as it often leads to compliance rather than true engagement and discretionary effort from team members.
"When we lead through our title or our position, usually you get compliance and you get the bare minimum," he explains. "But what a real true leader gets is they get that discretionary effort that the effort people are going to give not because they have to but because they want to because they want to follow you."
The Importance of Safety and Relationships
Safety is a critical aspect of construction that Patrick is particularly passionate about. He shares a powerful personal story from his time in the military, where a tragic incident made him realize the importance of speaking up and leading through influence, rather than relying on authority.
"I didn't have the courage to be able to lead through influence, to do the right thing myself, to be able to speak up and to say something," he reflects. "And I think about that on construction sites and the opportunities that we have to be able to speak up and say something and to do it in a way where, you know, part of my language, we don't wanna be a dick about it."
Patrick emphasizes the value of building relationships and getting to know your team members on a deeper level. He believes that the more you know someone, the more likely you are to watch out for them and ensure their safety.
Embracing the Leadership Journey
Throughout the conversation, Patrick emphasizes that leadership is a continuous journey, not a destination. He encourages construction professionals to embrace the process of growth and development, acknowledging that everyone has room for improvement.
"Leadership is a journey. It's not a destination," he says. "Not like you attend some type of workshop or whatever and you get blessed off and we'll draw now, you're good to go. Right? It's a continuing thing. We're continuing to grow and develop. We've all got things that we can do a little bit differently in life."
By adopting this mindset and focusing on developing their leadership skills, construction professionals can become the "Construction Champions" they were meant to be, transforming not only their own careers but the entire industry.
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Unlocking the Secrets of Construction Leadership
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