Why There’s No Such Thing as a Win Lose in Construction
Over the past week, I had the privilege of running two Foreman Boot Camps one with the High Street team and another up in Edmonton. Both were powerful, and while day one had participants feeling a little confused and stretched, by day two the light bulbs were turning on. By day three, many foremen were energized, motivated, and ready to implement what they had learned.
The biggest reflection from these sessions? Many foremen aren’t used to this kind of focused training and support. It was clear that the environment sitting down, engaging, connecting, and applying was unusual for them. But once they leaned in, the experience became transformational. This further confirmed for me that if there’s one group in construction we absolutely must invest in, it’s our foremen. They are the linchpins of our projects.
But I also want to share a concept I’ve been thinking about deeply, there’s no such thing as a win-lose.
The Myth of Win-Lose
We often hear phrases like, “That’s a win lose situation.” But when you look closely, a win-lose eventually turns into a lose lose.
Take marriage, for example. If one partner consistently “wins” while the other “loses,” that relationship won’t last it inevitably devolves into a lose-lose.
On construction projects, the same holds true. If a contractor prioritizes the client but neglects trade partners or designers, the project will unravel leading to schedule delays, poor quality, and frustration. What seemed like a win-lose for the client ends in lose-lose for everyone.
Even owner’s reps can fall into this trap. If they push against contractors and designers to protect the owner, they may believe they’re winning. But as the other parties struggle, the project outcome weakens, and the owner ultimately loses too.
The Real Secret: It’s Either Win-Win or Lose-Lose
Life and construction aren’t zero sum games. It’s not about one side winning while another loses. The truth is simple:
- Everyone wins together, or everyone loses together
When trades collaborate, when owners, designers, and contractors align, and when leaders create environments of abundance and trust, projects thrive. But when competition becomes toxic, silos form, and one group tries to win at the expense of others, the result is always lose-lose.
That’s why in construction and in life we must reject the idea of win-lose thinking. The only sustainable path forward is win-win.
Key Takeaway
In construction and beyond, there’s no such thing as a win lose. What looks like a short-term win at someone else’s expense always turns into lose-lose. The only real path to success is building true win-win outcomes where everyone rises together.
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
