Habits that Help & Hurt, Feat. John Coffman

Quality as a Mindset

The other day I was reflecting on my early years in construction, and I realized something that has stuck with me ever since. Back then, when I was new to the industry, I thought quality was simply about checking boxes at the end of the process. If the paint looked right, if the drywall was smooth, if the punch list was short, then I assumed we had delivered quality. Over time, I’ve learned that this view was far too narrow. True quality is not the final step, and it is not just about the product. It is a mindset that starts at the very beginning of a project and continues through every decision we make.

My friend John recently reminded me of this when he said, “Quality is not just the absence of defects, it is the presence of a culture where everyone cares.” That line resonated with me because it goes beyond the technical definitions we often use. Quality, at its core, is about the way people show up every day. It is about how much pride a team takes in their work, the preparation they put into their tasks, and the consistency with which they perform.

Kevin added another dimension when he said that quality can often be measured in how much rework we avoid. In other words, if we are constantly going back to fix things, then quality is missing somewhere in the process. That made me think of all the times I have walked projects and seen trades forced to redo work, not because they lacked skill, but because something upstream had been rushed, skipped, or misunderstood. Rework is not just an inconvenience; it is a signal that quality has not been embedded from the start.

What I find fascinating is that quality is really about foresight and systems. Think about a cooking show. The chefs never scramble around looking for ingredients or realizing halfway through that they are missing a pan. Everything is measured, prepared, and laid out before the cameras start rolling. That is what we call a full kit. And that full kit is not just about efficiency; it is about quality. It ensures that the final dish is consistent, timely, and professional. In construction, the same principle applies. Quality comes from preparation, coordination, and having the right people and resources in place before work begins.

I’ve also come to realize that quality is deeply tied to respect. When leaders read drawings, it is not enough to admire the design or nod at the complexity. As I once wrote in the builder’s code, reading drawings should trigger action. We should be asking: Is the information clear? How will this be built? When and in what sequence? Who will do it? Have the materials been ordered? These questions move us from being passive consumers of information to proactive leaders. That mindset is what creates quality outcomes on site.

There is also a temptation in our industry to lean too heavily on tools like CPM schedules, baselines, and incentives. The danger is that they can distract us from the human side of quality. A perfect baseline looks good on paper, but if the team on the ground is overworked, underprepared, or poorly coordinated, quality will suffer no matter what the schedule says. Incentives can motivate, but they can also create perverse outcomes where people cut corners just to hit a target. The truth is, no spreadsheet or schedule can replace a culture where people care about doing things right the first time.

The more I study lean principles, the more I see quality not as an end product, but as the natural result of respect, preparation, and systems thinking. If every foreman approached their day like a chef on a cooking show, with everything ready and everyone aligned, then quality would not be a checklist item. It would be the natural outcome of how we work.

I used to believe that quality was the responsibility of inspectors or managers. Now I see it differently. Quality belongs to everyone, and it begins long before the first tool is picked up. It begins in the mindset we bring to work, the way we plan, and the pride we take in doing things well.

Takeaway: Quality is not the absence of mistakes but the presence of preparation, pride, and care at every step.