Are your construction projects successful on paper, but your team still feels chaotic, disconnected, or hard to manage?

In this episode, Bradley Hartmann digs deeper into the concept of organizational climate—a hidden force that could be sabotaging your team's cohesion and long-term success, even if you're hitting your deadlines.

Whether it's innovation being stifled by red tape or behavioral standards being overlooked for results, this episode helps you uncover what's really going on beneath the surface.

In this episode you will:

• Learn the 6 key elements that define your team's climate—and how you directly influence each one.
• Discover one practical self-assessment question for every climate factor so you can spot trouble before it turns into turnover or safety issues.
• Hear how a winning football program masked a broken culture—and what you can do differently as a construction leader.

Press play now to gain the clarity you need to lead with purpose, improve your team's performance, and fix the hidden cracks in your culture before they become chaos.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems. Whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization, these conversations will equip you with tools to lead smarter and build stronger teams.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

Is it possible you're making silent strategic assumptions that could backfire?

Whether you're leading a construction firm or scaling a tech-driven business, one of the biggest risks you face isn't your competition—it's outdated assumptions.

In this episode, you'll hear how Procore and Trunk Tools in our construction space—as well as traditional movie studios and Netflix, more broadly—found themselves on shifting ground when partnerships turned into rivalries and when core beliefs about their business models no longer matched reality.

In this episode you will learn:

• A powerful mental model to evaluate your assumptions before they lead to strategic missteps
• A real-world breakdown of how Netflix disrupted an industry—and how that mirrors what's happening in construction tech
• Lessons from the Procore and Trunk Tools story that every construction executive should consider before heading into 2026

Hit play to learn how to future-proof your leadership strategy by challenging the assumptions you may not even realize you're making.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems. Whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization, these conversations will equip you with tools to lead smarter and build stronger teams.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

After 499 episodes of interviewing experts, walking job sites, and reflecting on real-world leadership challenges in the construction industry, I've uncovered 10.5 powerful truths that completely reshaped how I lead, work, and think.

These aren't recycled clichés—they're earned insights that go deeper than job titles or org charts. Whether you're managing a crew or leading a company, these truths could shift everything for you too.

In this episode you will:

• Hear the mental model that redefined what leadership actually is for me
• Understand why your environment may matter more than your intentions
• Discover the silent leadership killer almost no one talks about—and how to stop it from holding you back

Listen now to uncover the 10.5 hard-won leadership truths that not only shaped this podcast, but also transformed how I lead—and just might change the way you lead too.

And as a bonus, click here, Lesson 10.5 offers a powerful three-part framework for understanding leadership at any level.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems. Whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization, these conversations will equip you with tools to lead smarter and build stronger teams.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

499 :: Performance Reviews Are Broken In Construction—Here's How to Avoid Demoralizing and Confusing Your Talent

Are your year-end performance reviews actually motivating your team—or does it feel like (to you and/or them?) you're all just checking a box?

In construction, where time is money and field leaders are already stretched thin, performance reviews often feel like administrative burdens instead of leadership tools that motivate your team and accelerate performance into a new year.

But what if these meetings were more than bureaucratic necessities from HR? What if they could drive motivation, retention, and clarity heading into the new year?

In this episode, you will:

• Learn how to turn your year-end reviews into real conversations that energize employees
• Get two proven templates that bring clarity, structure, and fairness to your evaluations
• Discover the hidden leadership opportunities most construction execs miss during reviews

Listen now to learn how to lead year-end performance reviews that boost morale, improve retention, and make you a more effective construction leader.

Below are links to the two articles mentioned along with a PDF download of the tool we use at Hartmann & Co.

How to Create Your Own "Year in Review"
by Helen Tupper and Sarah Ellis

Research: Performance Reviews That Actually Motivate Employees

by Joonyoung Kim and Emily Zitek

BH&Co GAPP Model: Download here

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems. Whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization, these conversations will equip you with tools to lead smarter and build stronger teams.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

Is your annual strategic plan snapped shut in some binder, just collecting dust by February?

If you're a construction leader frustrated with planning sessions that feel good in the moment but lead nowhere, you're not alone. This episode tackles why traditional strategy frameworks often fail to deliver results—and offers a tested alternative you can use with your own team before the year kicks off.

In this episode you will:

• Learn a simple but powerful 3x100-day planning system that keeps your team focused all year long
• Discover how to link lead measures directly to your revenue goals without drowning in data
• Get a behind-the-scenes look at a fully transparent, high-engagement strategic session that any team can replicate

Listen now to discover how to transform your 2026 planning process into a leadership tool that drives clarity, accountability, and momentum.

Click here to download the PDF template.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems. Whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization, these conversations will equip you with tools to lead smarter and build stronger teams.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

Is your push for excellence quietly burning out your best people?

Many construction leaders default to "pacesetting"—leading by example, demanding speed, and expecting others to keep up. But according to leadership expert Daniel Goleman, this style may be crushing team morale, lowering performance, and increasing turnover—especially when overused.

In this episode you will:

• Learn the 6 proven leadership styles outlined in Goleman's HBR article—and how they apply to construction.
• Understand why pacesetting, though well-intentioned, often leads to burnout and disengagement.
• Discover how to flex your leadership style to drive accountability, morale, and long-term results on every project.

Listen now to uncover which leadership style your team really needs—and how to lead with clarity, confidence, and lasting impact.

Click here to download Goleman's 6 Leadership Styles.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems. Whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization, these conversations will equip you with tools to lead smarter and build stronger teams.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

Is your leadership style helping your construction team grow—or pushing top talent away?

If you're leading teams in today's construction industry, you know generational gaps, tech adoption, and market uncertainty are more real than ever. In this episode, you'll hear from UFP Site-Built EVP Mike Ellerbrook, whose leadership journey from the plant floor to the executive level shows how emotional intelligence, adaptability, and humor build strong, high-performance cultures that last.

In this episode you will:

• Discover how to shift leadership styles to reduce resistance to change and drive accountability.
• Learn how to make your culture more fun without losing focus on performance.
• Get real-world tactics to engage younger employees while respecting the wisdom of your veterans.

Press play to learn how strong leaders like Mike Ellerbrook adapt, connect across generations, and lead construction teams with focus, candor, and confidence.

Click here to download the classic HBR article on leadership styles by Daniel Goleman.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems. Whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization, these conversations will equip you with tools to lead smarter and build stronger teams.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

Are your best people underperforming despite their experience and talent?

This episode challenges ones of the most dangerous assumptions leaders make: that underperformance is a talent issue instead of a system problem.

Using lessons from NFL quarterbacks and a powerful leadership mental model, Bradley Hartmann explores why complexity is often the real enemy on your job sites – and how to fix it.

In this episode you will:

· Discover how elite athletes like Donovan McNabb can still fail under the wrong system – and what it means for your team.

· Learn how to run the "McNabb Test" on your processes to spot complexity bottlenecks.

· Understand how simplifying your communication can unlock execution, speed, and confidence in your crews.

Listen now to learn how reducing complexity in your leadership approach can help your best people perform at the best – consistently.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems. Whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization, these conversations will equip you with tools to lead smarter and build stronger teams.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.