Why “The Trades Agreed to It” Isn’t Enough
I hear this phrase a lot: “The trades agreed to it.”
I’ve said it myself in the past. Kevin has said it. You’ve probably heard it or used it, too.
Here’s the problem: on its own, that statement means very little.
Why It’s Often a False Safety Net
Most trade partners are under intense time pressure when bidding. They barely have enough bandwidth to finalize pricing, let alone carefully review a detailed schedule.
If you send them a CPM schedule, there’s a good chance they can’t truly read it. And even if you’re using Takt and the sequence is visible, they might not fully grasp the labor implications until they’re deep into the project or until the pull plan meeting, if you run it well with proper zoning.
And let’s be honest: sometimes, “the trades agreed to it” means they were pressured in a meeting, intimidated into agreeing to shorter durations, or sent a schedule via email that they didn’t have time to analyze. That’s not informed consent, it’s compliance under duress.
What Agreement Should Mean
If you want “the trades agreed to it” to mean something, it should mean:
- The deal is possible with the crews available.
- It’s been production planned and work-packaged.
- It’s responsible and realistic; no laws of production have been violated.
- They understand exactly what’s expected and what it will take to deliver.
- The contract reflects the reality of the schedule.
If all of that is true, then yes, the trades agreed to it is a valid statement.
Our Responsibility as General Contractors
Extreme ownership means we don’t hide behind a phrase. It’s our job to ensure the plan is fair, achievable, and clearly understood before anyone signs up for it. If the planning isn’t right, if it’s unrealistic, or if it forces people into impossible situations, then “they agreed to it” is just a cover for poor planning.
We’re here to create respect for people, stability, and flow, and that starts with making sure our trade partners are set up for success, not failure.
Key Takeaway:
“The trades agreed to it” is meaningless unless the agreement is informed, realistic, and backed by proper production planning. As general contractors, we have to make sure every deal we present is possible, fair, and clearly understood before anyone says “yes.”
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