Build a Little Better – Succeeding in your Next Role!

Starting a New Assignment with Confidence

Welcome back to the Elevate Construction community. In this Build-A-Little-Better segment, I want to share a simple system I’ve used for years whenever I step into a new role. I first applied it when I became the lead superintendent on a research laboratory project, and it has never stopped working for me. The process is rooted in lessons from leadership books, business systems, and self-improvement models distilled into a practical approach you can apply today.

Closing Out the Previous Role

Whenever I transition into a new assignment, I begin by finishing the old one well. That means closing meetings, archiving files, cleaning up my laptop and phone, and mentally clearing the deck. I want to walk into the new role with clarity, not clutter. Before becoming a lead superintendent, I remember feeling excited for what was next, but also determined to clean up every loose end so I could start fresh.

Defining the Role, Clearly and Honestly

The first major step is writing down exactly what the new role requires. Not a job description from HR my version of the role, built from experience and expectations. For the lead superintendent role, I wrote things like: perform reflection walks daily, stay ahead of procurement, remove roadblocks for the team, scale communication, and always see the future of the project. When we define the role intentionally, we finally understand what winning looks like.

Resolutions That Shape the Leader

Next, I create resolutions. These are personal commitments about behavior, language, mindset, and presence. When I stepped into that superintendent role, I changed the way I dressed. I committed to not cussing. I committed to mentoring someone three times a week, studying drawings daily, speaking up more often, and strengthening my partnership with the project manager. These resolutions shaped who I needed to become in order to execute the role well.

Building Habits & Leader Standard Work

Once the role and resolutions are clear, habits come next. These habits eventually form my leader standard work protected blocks of time on my calendar. I scheduled 30 minutes every morning in the schedule, 30 minutes reading drawings, afternoon reflection walks, huddles, and dedicated learning time each week. These habits didn’t stay on a piece of paper. They moved into Outlook as fixed appointments. If it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t exist.

Designing Your Meeting Structure

With personal time and leader standard work in place, the meeting system gets built around them. First, I block out family time, personal commitments, and recovery time. Then I protect my standing habits. Only after that do I place team meetings, trade partner meetings, schedule updates, and foreman huddles. This ensures the most important parts of my role are never sacrificed for the urgent noise of the day.

Tools, Training, and Time

Starting a new role also requires asking: What tools do I need? What equipment? What training? What software? I outfit my truck, my desk, and my office with exactly what I’ll need to perform. I also map out the books I’ll read, the courses I’ll take, the certifications I’ll pursue, and the personal time I’ll need to think and lead clearly. Great roles require great preparation.

Winning the Day

Finally, every single morning, I review my role, review my resolutions, check my calendar, triage my to-do list, and write a plan for the day on paper. I never start a day without knowing what winning looks like. That simple routine keeps me aligned with my purpose and prevents me from drifting into reaction mode.

This system works. Every time. If you start a new assignment or want to reboot your current one this process will give you clarity, confidence, and momentum.

Key Takeaway:
Starting a new assignment becomes far easier when you define your role, set clear resolutions, and build habits that support who you want to become.