Respect For People

Respect for People: The Foundation of Every Great Project

Have you ever felt that when it comes to making decisions on a project, you need a better compass?
Or maybe you’ve felt like a ship without a rudder, knowing something is off but not quite sure why.
Perhaps your team’s focus has shifted too much toward finances, and you can sense the soul of the project slipping away.

I’ve been there, and through experience, I’ve learned that the answer to nearly every one of those problems comes down to a single principle: respect for people.

Respect Equals High Expectations

Early in my career, when I was working as an assistant superintendent, the project I was on was messy, unsafe, and disorganized.
Bathrooms were covered in graffiti, the job site was cluttered, and people weren’t wearing their PPE.

I remember standing there thinking, we’re way off base.

My first instinct was to tighten the rules, lock the bathrooms, punish people, or micromanage every issue. But then something clicked.
Instead of fighting against the workforce, what if we worked with them?

So, I stood in front of 310 workers one Monday morning and made a deal.

We promised to give them the nicest bathrooms, a clean and comfortable lunch area, daily huddles, and barbecues.
In return, I asked for their commitment to safety, cleanliness, and respect for the space.

No objections. Every hand stayed down. The deal was made.

The result?
Graffiti disappeared overnight.
Cleanliness skyrocketed.
Safety incidents dropped dramatically.
Morale soared.

That project even went on to win a safety award.

The moment that sealed it for me was when a seasoned electrician approached me and said,

“You’re the first GC who’s ever treated us like humans, not animals.”

That hit me hard because he was right. Too often, our industry treats workers as expendable, not essential.

What Respect Really Looks Like on Site

Respect isn’t just a word; it’s action.
It’s clean bathrooms, safe environments, organized sites, and clear communication.

If you think workers are respected, look around:

• Are the restrooms clean and stocked?
• Are the lunch areas comfortable and shaded?
• Are you talking with your craft, or just at them?
• Are you solving safety problems with them, or delegating them away?

Respect means leading by example.
If I wouldn’t use the same restroom, eat in the same lunch area, or follow the same rules, then I’m not respecting my people.

It’s not enough to say we care; we have to show it.

That means:

• Having restrooms cleaned daily if needed.
• Using the same facilities as the workforce.
• Holding daily huddles with every worker.
• Creating a safe, organized, high-morale site.
• Holding the line on cleanliness and safety, because high expectations are the ultimate form of respect.

Being Strict Is Also Respect

Here’s where many leaders get confused.
They think being “nice” means being lenient.

But letting unsafe behavior slide isn’t kindness; it’s negligence.
Allowing disorganization to fester isn’t leadership; it’s disrespect.

When I stop a crew to clean their area or send someone home for ignoring safety rules, it’s not because I’m mean.
It’s because I respect them enough to believe they can, and should, do better.

Respect isn’t softness.
It’s believing your people are capable of greatness and expecting nothing less.

The Core of Lean Construction

At its heart, Lean begins with respect for people.
Everything else stable environments, continuous improvement, and efficiency flows from that foundation.

When workers are treated with dignity, they rise to the occasion.
When leaders set clear expectations, people perform at their best.
And when respect drives every decision, you build not just better projects, but better people.

Key Takeaway

Respect equals high expectations. Treat your workforce like equals, not subordinates. Build them clean, safe environments, communicate with them daily, and hold them to high standards. Because respect isn’t about being “nice.” It’s about believing in people enough to expect their best, and giving them the environment to deliver it.