In this blog, I want to share a simple truth I’ve seen proven over and over again, getting behind makes work hard, but staying ahead makes work fun.
Recently, we were deep in preconstruction for a project we call Leanville. We started planning 18 months ahead an investment of at least $80,000 in early planning and it paid off. Feedback from the design team and owner was fantastic. We were delivering one of their best experiences yet.
Then, one critical deliverable the norm level TACT plan didn’t happen on time. I let it slide over the holidays, but when we came back, it still wasn’t done. That discovery, coupled with other performance issues, meant we had to let a team member go.
The fallout? For two weeks, we scrambled. Procurement lagged. Bid packages weren’t ready. The team felt the pressure, and morale dipped. We weren’t ahead anymore and it wasn’t fun.
By late February, we fought our way back. The TACT plan was in place. Procurement was on track. Coordination meetings were crisp, PPC scores were strong, and mirror boards looked great. The mood shifted instantly. The team was joking, collaborating, and thriving.
That’s when our project manager said something powerful:
“I’m never going to let the team get in that situation again. If I have to have hard conversations, I will because I don’t want to go back there.”
And that’s the point: being ahead is the secret to an energized, high performing team. It’s how you create space to take a Friday afternoon at the lake, to work without stress, to enjoy the job. Waiting for information, for drawings, for “the right time” feels comfortable in the moment but trades short-term ease for long-term misery.
On mega projects, this principle is even more critical. A billion dollar project is never just one project it’s a collection of smaller ones that each need their own plan, team, and rhythm. Without that structure, teams burn out fast.
The formula is simple:
Ahead = Fun. Behind = Misery.
If you want to protect your team, their morale, and your results, fight to stay ahead.
Key Takeaway
A fun, high-performing project team isn’t an accident it’s the result of relentless planning, decisive action, and staying ahead. Fall behind, and morale collapses; stay ahead, and the work becomes both productive and enjoyable.
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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