How to Get Leaders to Plan

Getting Superintendents and PMs to Plan in Preconstruction

I recently received a powerful question from a construction leader: How do we get superintendents and project managers to actually plan in preconstruction? It’s a fair concern, because the truth is many builders avoid detailed planning until the last possible moment. But when we fail to plan early, projects start with chaos instead of clarity.

Why Planning is Non-Negotiable

I’ll say this plainly. Being a superintendent or a project manager is not about walking the jobsite pointing fingers. It is about being the planner of the project. A superintendent is, in essence, a first planner. Their responsibility is to build the project on paper before building it in the field.

When leaders avoid this, they are essentially saying, “I’ll just waste hundreds of thousands of dollars because I didn’t feel like planning.” That might sound harsh, but it is true. Planning is not optional. It is project management 101.

What Effective Preconstruction Planning Looks Like

The foundation is already laid out in The First Planner System. I recommend requiring superintendents and PMs to complete planning deliverables before the job begins. This includes takt plan, zone maps, logistics plan, accountability chart, risk and opportunity register, trailer layout, and procurement log.

These documents should be ready before the first fresh eyes meeting. In reality, the first meeting may not go well. Documents will be missing, and excuses will surface. That is normal. The key is to schedule a second review shortly after, give clear expectations, and hold the team accountable to finishing the work.

Accountability Without Negativity

Accountability does not mean anger, frustration, or threats. Too often, leaders swing from one extreme to another, either pushing with emotion or pulling back into softness that avoids confrontation. The middle ground is best.

With kindness and clarity, you can say: This is how we do it. These plans will be created. If you do not, I will have to step in, find someone else, or make changes. That is not cruelty. It is leadership. Teams will eventually appreciate the standard because it protects them from mediocrity and sets them up for success.

Human Nature and Cultural Standards

It is human nature to conserve energy, avoid discomfort, and resist planning. That does not mean people do not want accountability. They actually crave it. By setting and holding a clear standard, you build a culture that says: This is how we operate. This is serious. This is who we are as builders.

And over time, superintendents and PMs will not only accept the requirement to plan, but they will embrace it as the hallmark of professionalism.

Raising the Bar in Construction

The bottom line is simple. If you are a superintendent or a project manager, your job is to plan. Just as a doctor must know medicine and a hairdresser must know how to cut hair, a builder must know how to plan a project. Anything less is unacceptable.

When we raise the standard, we stop wasting resources, stop tolerating mediocrity, and create projects that start with alignment instead of confusion. That is what true leadership looks like in construction.

Key Takeaway

Superintendents and project managers are first and foremost planners. Preconstruction planning is the foundation of project success, and when leaders set clear expectations with accountability and kindness, planning becomes a cultural norm that drives excellence.