Training Resources for Field Engineers

From Carpenter to Superintendent: What Should You Learn First?

I recently received a message that really inspired me. A listener had just made the leap from being a union carpenter to becoming a superintendent at a commercial general contractor. He’s now building grocery stores, pharmacies, and retail spaces and stepping into leadership.

His big question?

“Where do I start?”

He’s already feeling the weight of responsibility and recognizing that there’s a lot to learn, especially around field engineering and quality control. The exciting part? He’s not hesitating. He’s already reading Elevating Construction Superintendents and the Field Engineering Methods Manual. I love that mindset.

Here’s exactly what I told him and what I’d tell anyone stepping into this role.

Start with the Three Daily Habits of a Builder

If you do nothing else, build these three habits into your day. They’ll give you momentum and clarity:

1. Read the plans for 30 minutes a day.
   You’ll start to build confidence, see the job more clearly, and gain real foresight. The more you read the plans, the more you’ll start to think like a builder.
2. Update the production plan daily.
   Spend 30 minutes making sure you’re ahead of bottlenecks. This keeps the team flowing and gives you visibility on what’s coming next.
3. Walk the site with purpose.
   Use your walks to connect the plan to reality. Where there’s a disconnect, take action. It’s not just about walking it’s about leading through observation and correction.

These three habits aren’t just tasks they’re leadership in action.

Use the Miro Boards

We created Miro boards at Elevate Construction to support superintendents and field engineers. These boards are packed with tools, guides, and learning content. If you’re new, there’s no excuse not to start here they’re free, visual, and simple to use.

What you’ll find:

• Clear role descriptions
• Recommended books and video content
• Templates and checklists
• Daily, weekly, and monthly rhythms
• Scorecards for tracking progress

Whether you’re a new super or training one, these boards will get you going fast.

Watch and Read These Core Resources

Here’s what I recommend reading and watching:

• Field Engineering Methods Manual (Version 4 coming soon)
• Construction Surveying and Layout by Wes Crawford
• The Lean Survey YouTube Channel
• Elevate Construction Podcast and YouTube content
• Elevating Construction Superintendents (Read it again!)
• Coming soon: Elevating Construction Field Engineers

Adopt a Long-Term Learning Mindset

I get it stepping into leadership can feel overwhelming. But let me encourage you: feeling overwhelmed is a sign you care.

You don’t need to know everything. What you need is the mindset and the habits to keep learning and to stay humble.

“What matters most is not knowing everything, it’s building the habits that help you see ahead and take action.”

A Quick Note on Feedback and Support

If you’ve bought one of our books and it fell apart due to a poor printing run please let me know. I’ll send you a replacement copy for free. No strings attached.

We’re also working on our upcoming books with a collaborative model what I call a “Taylor Swift move.” We’re building these with our audience, getting real-world input to make the books authentic, seamless, and powerful. Your feedback matters.

Key Takeaway

Start with habits, not titles.

Reading plans. Updating production. Walking the site with purpose. These will do more for your growth as a new superintendent than any job title, fancy tool, or degree ever could.

We don’t just build projects, we build people.

And if you’re stepping into leadership: I’m rooting for you.