Navigating Leadership and Mental Health in the Construction Industry with Heath Troyer | EP 226

Episode Description:

What happens when a construction leader decides that building people matters more than building projects? In this episode of the Engineer Your Success Podcast Heath Troyer—fourth-generation contractor, business owner, and national mental health advocate—opens up about the hidden crisis facing construction leaders today: managing projects has become easier than leading whole humans.

Heath and James explore why so many leaders still operate from a “leave yourself in the parking lot” mentality, how self-awareness transforms leadership, and why building systems that build people starts with leaders being willing to do their own work first. This conversation doesn’t just challenge how we think about leadership in construction—it challenges how we show up as leaders in every area of life.

If you’ve ever felt the weight of leading while carrying your own unspoken struggles, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership in construction (and beyond) is shifting from “employee at work” to leading the “whole self”—but most leaders lack the tools to make this transition effectively

• Self-awareness is the foundation of effective leadership: leaders must run toward therapy, mental health resources, and personal growth first before they can truly support their teams

• Building systems that build people requires continuous check-ins to understand what motivates each person at their current life stage—not just what serves the company agenda

• Your worth isn’t measured by your accomplishments; high performers often run toward achievement while running from a foundational belief that they’re “not enough”

Timestamps:

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:41 Leadership challenges: managing projects vs. leading people
  08:25 Self-awareness as the foundation of leadership
  14:23 Community impact and giving back
  17:13 Heath’s personal journey and mental health advocacy
  25:23 What engineering your success really means
  29:12 Your worth is not measured by your works
  31:43 Coach in Your Corner and closing prayer

About Heath Troyer:

Heath Troyer is a fourth-generation construction leader, business owner, and national advocate for mental health in the trades. With over 25 years of experience in roles from carpenter to Senior Project Manager, Director of Field Operations, and Director of Corporate Safety, Heath now owns Troyer Construction Services, specializing in non-profit work including grant-funded home modifications and attainable housing for underserved communities through partnerships with organizations like Neighborhood Link.

As a suicide survivor, Heath works nationally with the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention (CIASP) and provides mental health support through YMCA childcare services. He speaks openly about leadership, self-awareness, and creating workplace cultures where people can bring their whole selves to work. His leadership philosophy is simple: we can build more than buildings—we can build people. Connect with Heath on Facebook at Heath Troyer or through Troyer Construction Services.

Connect on LinkedIn: Heath Troyer

Resources Mentioned:

• CIASP – Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention –
• https://www.preventconstructionsuicide.com

About the Host: Dr. James Bryant is an executive leadership coach who helps engineering leaders and technical professionals win at work and at home. Through his Engineer Your Success coaching program, he guides high-performing professionals to build careers and lives aligned with their deepest values—without burning out in the process. Connect with James at engineeryoursuccessnow.com.

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