Comfortable in Detail, & Less so with the Art Form

Getting Comfortable in the Detail and the Art of Construction Planning

I hope you’re doing well and staying safe out there. I want to start by sharing a quick personal story. Recently, I took a couple of days to visit a lake house with my family. It was a perfect trip great weather, no breakdowns with the boat or trailer, and the kids enjoyed snorkeling for hours. It reminded me of the importance of appreciating smooth moments when everything just works as planned.

But back to construction, where things aren’t always so smooth. Let’s jump into a core concept I want to explore today, being comfortable in the detail and more importantly, balancing that with being comfortable in the art form of construction planning.

The Builder’s Code: Supervision Is Mostly Execution

One of my favorite quotes that guides me is about the role of supervision: the actual giving of orders represents only about 10% of your responsibility. The other 90% is personal supervision being on the ground to ensure proper and vigorous execution.

That sets the tone for what we want to focus on.

Feedback from the Field: Embracing AI

A listener from Australia asked about the use of AI tools like ChatGPT to improve productivity in construction roles. Honestly, AI is already a huge part of my day. I use it for everything from writing books, responding to comments, sequencing tact plans, to business decision research.

We’ve even brought in an AI consultant to help automate summaries and KPIs from project data, and soon, we’ll be teaching AI to identify proper sequences directly from drawings. The takeaway? Don’t fear AI. Jump in and embrace it this technology is here to stay and will dramatically change how we work.

The Challenge: Comfort in Detail vs. The Art Form

Here’s where it gets interesting. There was an old superintendent who submitted extremely detailed schedules some as long as 120 pages with thousands of activities down to trivial tasks like moving trash cans. The owner liked it because it was detailed, so it must be good, right?

Not quite.

One of the biggest problems with traditional CPM scheduling is that the overwhelming detail creates an illusion of control but can actually cause wasted time and inefficiencies. When schedules batch work into large chunks, they mask the true flow of production and lead to wasted weeks or months.

The trap? Getting too comfortable in the detail and less comfortable in the art form of strategic planning.

What Is the Art Form?

The art form means understanding enough about the project’s sequence, zoning, and interdependencies to create a macro-level plan that sets the right overall milestones and durations. It means strategically planning phase by phase, then pulling detailed plans only when you’re close to execution, involving the real builders in the process.

This approach avoids the pitfalls of overburdening the team with premature detailed pull plans and allows the project team to focus on strategy first.

Why This Matters

Trying to detail everything upfront leads to stress, lost focus on the big picture, and often poor outcomes. But leaning into the art form, knowing when to zoom out for strategy and when to zoom in for execution, is a skill and yes, an art that every construction leader should cultivate.

When schedulers try to put everything in CPM schedules thinking that detail equals control, they’re fooling themselves. There’s no way to predict all details that far in advance. Instead, get comfortable with doing the right things at the right time.

Final Thought

Stop being neurotic about chasing every detail too early. Trust the process, lean into strategic planning, and develop confidence in the art of construction sequencing. When you do, your projects will run smoother and your teams will be more effective.

Key Takeaway

Mastering construction planning means balancing detail with strategy being comfortable not just in the specifics but also in the art of sequencing and timing. Embrace macro level planning early and reserve detailed pull plans for when they truly add value. This balance leads to smarter schedules, less wasted effort, and better project outcomes.