Respect in Construction: People, Resources, Customers, and Ourselves

Today I want to talk about respect in construction, but in a different way than I usually approach the topic. Respect is not just about courtesy or professionalism. It is about how we treat people, how we care for resources, how we handle our customers, and how we respect ourselves. These four areas combine to shape the culture, performance, and outcomes of any construction project.

Let me begin with a bit of an update. I am still working on the Elevating Construction Senior Superintendents book about the Last Planner System. The introduction, graphics, and cover are already done, and now we are writing the sections that describe the system itself. At the same time, LeanTakt continues to grow. We are weaving lessons from How Big Things Get Done and Built to Fail into our outlines, and it is exciting to see these ideas connect.

One thing that stood out to me recently came from a conversation about communication. My wife reminded me that words carry weight differently for men and women. Men often shrug off comments about appearance, but women may internalize them for years. Respect means being mindful, careful, and considerate, especially with the people closest to us. That same principle applies to teams in construction. Respect is not about avoiding conflict but about using words and actions to build others up rather than break them down.

Another reflection I have been working through relates to team size. I usually advocate for small teams of three to twelve people, ideally around four. But through our work at LeanTakt, I have seen how larger spans of responsibility can function effectively when the structure is right. We now train every Lean engineer to grow into leadership, and we rotate pod leaders who guide small groups within larger teams. This blend provides both the intimacy of small groups and the efficiency of larger structures. Respect here means adapting management approaches so that people are supported without burying them under layers of supervision.

Now let us explore respect in a broader sense. In Lean construction, respect starts with people. It means listening, training, supporting, and onboarding them properly. It means providing the logistics they need, from parking to water to safe facilities. It means creating safe, clean, and organized sites where they can work productively and go home unharmed. Respect includes connecting with workers often, holding huddles, making work fun, organizing barbecues, and building flowable schedules that prevent burnout. Even small touches like clean bathrooms and good lunch areas communicate respect. Most importantly, it means speaking up for workers when they cannot speak up for themselves.

Respect also extends to resources. When we prefabricate, we respect time and effort. When we minimize waste, we respect the environment and our budgets. When we order properly and avoid overburdening suppliers, we respect the supply chain. Caring for equipment, maintaining project sites, and treating surrounding areas with consideration are also acts of respect. These practices save time, reduce rework, and build trust.

Respecting customers takes the conversation further. In construction, everyone is a customer. Owners, designers, trade partners, neighbors, vendors, even pedestrians passing the site all count. Imagine how different a project culture would be if we treated every one of them as our most valued customer. That means asking how neighbors would feel about noise, how end users would experience the placement of fixtures, and how pedestrians would experience traffic control. Respect means protecting budgets and investor money, coordinating with facility managers, communicating clearly, and making the process easier for those who rely on us.

Finally, we must respect ourselves. That means getting the help we need, balancing workloads, and ensuring our teams have the tools and resources to succeed. It means following financial approvals, not forcing trades into impossible situations, and covering risks. It means asking for what we need, protecting our energy, and managing our workload sustainably. When we fail to respect ourselves, we eventually fail our clients and teams as well.

Respect in construction is not one-dimensional. It covers people, resources, customers, and ourselves. Neglecting any one of these areas leads to imbalance. You cannot truly care for the owner if you are burning yourself out. You cannot claim to respect your workers if you neglect resources or create chaotic schedules. Respect is a cycle, and when it is practiced fully, it lifts entire projects to a higher level.

I share this because these insights did not make it into the new book, but they are too important to overlook. Respect is not a side note in construction. It is the foundation of trust, performance, and long-term success.

Key Takeaway

Respect in construction extends beyond people. It includes resources, customers, and ourselves. When we integrate all four, we create projects that thrive and teams that succeed.