Are Lean Influencers Transforming Construction?
In this blog, we’ll explore the role of lean influencers in the construction industry. As someone who strives to contribute to the lean movement, I want to reflect on whether we, as lean influencers, are truly making a difference. I’ll share key insights on what lean is, how influencers are helping (or not), and provide some guidance for those looking to amplify their impact. Let’s dive in.
What Is Lean?
Lean is all about continuous improvement and eliminating waste. At its core, lean in construction focuses on:
- Respect for people and resources.
- Stability (one piece, one process, one progress).
- Flow (working in sync with Takt time and visual systems).
- Total participation (everyone is engaged in the process).
- Quality (delivering excellence through continuous improvement).
These six pillars define how we optimize construction workflows while ensuring a people-first approach.
What Is a Lean Influencer?
A lean influencer is someone who spreads awareness, shares knowledge, and encourages the adoption of lean principles. Whether through social media, books, podcasts, or other platforms, these individuals aim to help teams and organizations work smarter, not harder.
The question is: Are we truly helping the industry progress, or are we just adding to the noise? Here are five ways lean influencers can positively impact construction.
- Sharing Content That is Simple & Understandable:
One of the best things about lean influencers is their ability to share valuable content. Whether it’s through YouTube, LinkedIn, or blog posts, the goal should be to make lean concepts simple, clear, and practical.
A key lesson I’ve learned is this: If your audience doesn’t understand your content, it’s not their fault—it’s yours. We must focus on:
- Creating clear, engaging visuals.
- Avoiding overly technical or dense explanations.
- Making lean practical and applicable.
When lean influencers simplify complex ideas, they help more people adopt and implement them.
- Helping to Figure Things Out:
Lean is always evolving, and influencers play a huge role in experimenting, refining, and improving ideas. Take Takt planning, for example. I didn’t invent it—many people developed and refined it over time. My role (and that of other influencers) was to connect the dots, test what works, and share insights.
The best lean influencers:
- Give credit to those who came before them.
- Contribute to ongoing improvements.
- Remain open to learning from others.
If we are truly helping the industry, we’re not just promoting our own methods—we’re refining and expanding on the work of many.
- Adding Value First:
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that giving value comes before asking for anything in return. If we focus on adding value, everything else follows.
Ways to add value as a lean influencer:
- Share templates, tools, and insights for free.
- Provide genuine help and guidance without a sales pitch.
- Focus on solving real problems for people in the industry.
If you want to make a real impact as a lean influencer, adopt this mindset: Give. Share. Help. Then, let the results speak for themselves.
- Building Meaningful Connections:
The best influencers aren’t just broadcasting information—they’re connecting with people. Some of my favorite examples:
- Felipe Engineer – Shares insights on Scrum while fostering connections.
- Paul Akers – Builds networks of lean practitioners worldwide.
- Marco Binninger & Janos Louie – Collaborate with lean professionals globally.
What do they all have in common? They engage, connect, and collaborate instead of working in isolation.
- Staying Open & Adaptable:
The worst thing a lean influencer can do is become rigid and closed off. Lean is about continuous improvement, which means we should always be evolving.
At Elevate, we update our books, improve our methods, and listen to feedback. Why? Because there’s always a better way.
The best lean influencers:
- Stay open-minded and humble.
- Avoid the trap of “one-size-fits-all” solutions.
- Encourage experimentation and adaptation.
Are Lean Influencers Helping?
The short answer: Yes—if they follow these principles.
If you want to be a lean influencer, focus on clarity, value, connection, and continuous learning.
If you want to learn more we have:
-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here)
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here)
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)
Discover Jason’s Expertise:
Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.
On we go