Leadership & Personal Development, Feat. Leandris Weeden, CM-Lean, LCI-CPC

Leadership, Growth, and Authentic Influence in Construction

Leadership in construction is more than holding a title. It is about influence, authenticity, and the ability to connect with people on a personal level. In my conversation with Leandris Weeden, a lean practitioner with years of experience in healthcare construction, we explored leadership, personal development, and the power of failing forward.

Leandris began by describing his introduction to lean construction back in 2014. At that time, he was working at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and exposed to practices like pull planning, daily huddles, and weekly work plans. At first, he did not know where these tools came from, but later he realized they were rooted in Toyota’s lean practices and the Last Planner System. This curiosity sparked his deeper dive into lean construction, setting him on a path of continuous learning.

When I asked him what message he wanted to share with the industry, his response was clear: do not be afraid to fail. Failure, he said, is the first attempt in learning. In construction and in life, we often fear mistakes, yet those mistakes are what allow us to grow. If we can fail iteratively and learn from each step, then we can build momentum and confidence.

We then discussed leadership. Leandris uses John Maxwell’s definition of leadership: influence, nothing more, nothing less. The challenge lies in how influence is earned. Too often, people rely on artificial authority tied to titles or positions. Authentic leadership, however, comes from who you are and how you build trust. People will only follow you because they want to, not because they are forced to.

He emphasized that authentic leadership begins with getting to know people. Beyond the job site, you need to connect with workers as individuals, learn their stories, and build trust. He shared a powerful example from a project in Miami, where he worked with a Cuban crew. By learning how to make Cuban coffee and serving it daily, he built bonds with the team. That simple act of cultural connection created trust, respect, and buy-in far beyond what authority alone could achieve.

Trust, he reminded us, is the foundation of any high-performing team. Without it, there can be no healthy conflict, accountability, or results. Building trust requires personal effort, humility, and the willingness to serve others.

We also talked about personal development. According to Leandris, who you are matters more than what you do. Leaders are remembered not for their tasks but for their character. He stressed the importance of intentionally growing through habits like daily reading. His personal practice is reading at least 30 minutes every morning, which helps him become a better version of himself each day.

This kind of consistent investment in personal growth separates strong leaders from average ones. Instead of spending hours scrolling on social media, he invests time in developing character, which benefits his career, his family, and his community.

He described the importance of having a gain mindset rather than a gap mindset. A gap mindset compares you to an ideal or image you may never reach, which is discouraging. A gain mindset compares you only to your past self, focusing on progress and growth over time. This is how leaders evolve from success to significance, moving beyond personal achievement to positively impacting others.

As our conversation wrapped up, I asked about his vision for the future. He explained that he sees life as a journey rather than a series of destinations. His goal is to continue evolving, giving back to young professionals, and using his unique abilities to help others grow. Whether through operations, consulting, or mentoring, his mission is to create positive influence in the industry and in people’s lives.

He left us with a memorable challenge. In life and in construction, you must decide if you want to be part of the mediocre many or the fantastic few. Becoming part of the fantastic few requires intentional growth, authentic leadership, and the courage to fail forward.

Key Takeaway

Authentic leadership is rooted in who you are, not what title you hold. Growth comes from intentional habits, building trust, and having the courage to fail forward.