Don’t Give a Hammer to a Serial Killer
Sometimes in construction and in life we have to think hard about who we give tools and information to. That might sound obvious, but in practice, it can make or break a project.
A listener recently wrote to me with a powerful story. He started at the very bottom of the trades, working without training, guidance, or even fair treatment. Despite the tough start, he worked his way into construction management, driven by his work ethic and love of learning. Eventually, he found my books and blog, and for the first time, realized his struggle wasn’t unique it was a symptom of a larger industry problem: lack of proper training and systems.
His passion for learning led him to dive deep into Takt planning. But he faced resistance from his company, which was locked into the old waterfall CPM scheduling. He wanted to bring them along, but he knew just like giving a hammer to a serial killer you can’t hand powerful tools to people who will misuse them.
This is where the metaphor hits home. On a job site, you wouldn’t give a hammer to someone dangerous. In scheduling, you wouldn’t hand over your production targets to an abusive owner who could weaponize them against your team.
It’s not dishonest to hold back the tactical details when necessary. I believe in showing both the macro plan (the contractual promise) and the norm (the production target) but only when it’s safe to do so. If someone will use the information to hurt people or derail the work, you protect your team by controlling what you share.
At the end of the day, human beings act to preserve themselves. We can’t always count on them to do the right thing, but we can design systems and circumstances that encourage the best behavior. That’s leadership. That’s strategy. And that’s why you don’t give a hammer to a serial killer.
Key Takeaway
Protect your team by being intentional about who gets access to powerful tools and information. In construction and in life, setting the right boundaries isn’t dishonesty it’s smart leadership.
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
