Trade partners don't "just work for us" they're the reason we make progress at all. In this episode, Jason lays out why a general contractor can't win unless trade partners are profitable and successful, and how to build real collaboration through culture, team systems, and accountability. You'll hear practical ways to remove the office-vs-field divide, create true PM/Super partnership, and implement simple feedback loops that force continuous improvement.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:
Why a GC can't be successful unless trade partners are successful and profitable
The real definition of "project success" (and why schedule alone doesn't count)
How "total participation" becomes the unlock for buy-in and collaboration
Why trade partners suffer when the schedule has no flow and what to do about it
How Takt planning and Last Planner create predictable workflow for trades
How to eliminate the office vs. field mentality with proximity and shared systems
Why PMs and supers must operate as equal partners (and what breaks when they don't)
How to stop gossip-and-complaint cycles by forcing issues into direct conversation
Why involving supers in buyout and PMs in planning kills blame and finger-pointing
The fastest accountability system: weekly trade grading of the GC (and GC grading of trades)
Pick one of the systems from this episode and implement it this week don't "talk about it." Start with the simplest: a weekly scorecard where trade partners grade the GC team and the GC grades trade partners, then share the results every Friday so everyone can see the trend and improve.
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
