The Power of “Thank You”, Feat. Mark Story

The Power of Thank You: A Small Habit That Builds a Strong Culture

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down once again with my good friend and mentor, Mark Story. And we dove into something simple so simple that it’s often overlooked but deeply powerful: the act of saying thank you.

In construction, we tend to think in terms of toughness, deadlines, and discipline. But Mark brought a message that cut through all of that: building people matters just as much as building projects.

He shared a story from early in his career that really hit home. After working in a high-stress, shout-heavy job, he took a pay cut to work at a smaller company. When his new boss handed him his first paycheck and said, “I cannot thank you enough,” it rocked him. That moment of genuine appreciation meant more than the money. It was a turning point in his leadership journey.

A well-timed thank you can be worth more than a raise.

From there, we unpacked how something as small as noticing and appreciating good work can change the energy on a jobsite. Mark urged us to look for people doing the right things picking up trash, collaborating across trades, showing up early, staying late and not just notice them, but thank them. Not just quietly, but publicly. That lifts morale, builds trust, and creates approachability.

I’ve seen it myself some of the roughest, toughest-looking workers still want to be seen, respected, and valued. Every human wants to know they matter. Every builder wants to feel appreciated.

Gratitude, humility, encouragement these aren’t soft skills. These are the things that set true leaders apart. When you build connection, accountability becomes easier. When teams feel seen, they show up stronger. When leaders are approachable, problems get solved faster.

Gratitude is the foundation of influence, trust, and loyalty.

We also talked about the risk we run in the general superintendent role if we don’t get this right. It’s not enough to track progress or enforce rules. We’ve got to connect, communicate, and care.

So we shared a few practical ways to start:

• Show up early and walk the site
• Pick up trash and lead by example
• Run short morning huddles to praise the crew
• Thank people for the small things being on time, staying late, stepping up
• Recognize someone publicly in front of their peers
• Block time to be present in the field
• Ask questions, listen, and get to know your people

I shared a personal story too about a general superintendent who had my back during a really tough presentation. He simply said, “Let Schroeder do what he does.” That belief lit a fire in me. He led with trust, not control. And I’ve never forgotten it.

A simple thank you is free but its value multiplies across teams and over time.

We closed with one last challenge from Mark and it’s maybe the most important one of all: Don’t forget to thank your partner at home. Behind every successful builder is often a family sacrificing time, energy, and support. They deserve our appreciation too.

Key Takeaway:
A strong culture on the jobsite isn’t built just with tools or systems it’s built through relationships and respect. Make gratitude a daily habit. A handshake, a kind word, a shout-out in the morning huddle these small acts of appreciation can transform the way we lead, work, and build together.