Construction leaders are being told—daily—that AI, automation, dashboards, and optimization are the future. But what if the very things we're rushing to automate are the things that actually make leadership work?

In this episode, Bradley Hartmann explores a surprising case study: the resurgence of Barnes & Noble, a 140-year-old, paper-and-ink business thriving in the age of AI and Amazon.

Using the Barnes & Noble turnaround as a lens, this episode breaks down two leadership capabilities AI will never replicate—and why they matter more than ever in construction:

• Being a genuine fan of the work, the customer, and the people doing the work
• Taste and human judgment—knowing what matters, what doesn't, and when timing matters more than data.

This isn't a story about books.

It's a story about leadership, accountability, and change in old, complex industries—just like construction.

This episode will help you:

• Identify where your organization may be over-centralized or over-optimized
• Reclaim leadership leverage that no software can replace
• Make better decisions about what to abandon, not just what to add
• Lead change without losing trust, judgment, or accountability

You'll walk away with a clearer lens on what great construction leadership actually requires in the age of AI.

If Barnes & Noble can come back by falling back in love with books, imagine what could happen in construction if leaders fell back in love with building—and the people who make it happen.

https://www.honest-broker.com/p/what-can-we-learn-from-barnes-and

https://substack.com/@tedgioia

At Bradley Hartmann & Company, we help construction teams improve sales, leadership, and communication by reducing miscommunication, strengthening teamwork, and bridging language gaps between English and Spanish speakers. To learn more about our product offerings, visit bradleyhartmannandco.com.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems—whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization.

Have topic ideas or guest recommendations? Contact us at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

New podcasts are dropped every Tuesday and Thursday.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

What if there's one part of your job you're uniquely built for—and it checks all these boxes?

• Others consistently see you as exceptional at it
• You genuinely enjoy it and want more time doing it
• It gives you energy, even on hard days
• You never feel "done" improving at it

If you know what this activity is, you've identified your unique ability, as defined by business coach Dan Sullivan. Unfortunately, most people spend their entire careers without ever pinpointing it—robbing both themselves and those around them of their natural strengths.

Many construction owners, project managers, and superintendents feel exhausted, frustrated, and stretched thin—not because they lack discipline or skill, but because they're spending the majority of their time working outside their unique ability.

In this episode, Bradley Hartmann breaks down a powerful leadership mental model using an unexpected case study—Michael Scott from The Office—to show how leaders can create more impact, energy, and results without trying to be good at everything.

By listening to this episode, you'll learn:

• How to identify your unique ability—and why it matters more than fixing weaknesses
• Why burnout is often an energy problem, not a workload problem
• How great construction leaders design roles and teams around strengths to build loyalty, culture, and performance

Press play to discover how leveraging your unique ability can transform the way you lead, energize your team, and reclaim focus in your construction business.

At Bradley Hartmann & Company, we help construction teams improve sales, leadership, and communication by reducing miscommunication, strengthening teamwork, and bridging language gaps between English and Spanish speakers. To learn more about our product offerings, visit bradleyhartmannandco.com.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems—whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization.

Have topic ideas or guest recommendations? Contact us at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

New podcasts are dropped every Tuesday and Thursday.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

Are you trading time, health, or relationships in pursuit of your goals—and not even realizing it?

In this episode, Bradley Hartmann shares a powerful non-obvious leadership book, The Cost of These Dreams by Wright Thomson, that reframes ambition, success, and the unseen sacrifices we make to chase big dreams.

Through stories of iconic figures like Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, Urban Meyer, Pat Riley, and Dan Gable, we explore what it really costs to lead at a high level—and whether we're willing to pay that price.

In this episode you will:

• Discover how world-class performers balance — and often fail to balance — success and self.
• Learn how ambition, if unchecked, can erode the very things you're working to protect.
• Reflect on your own leadership path and how to pursue excellence without losing yourself in the process.

Listen now to discover what elite competitors reveal about success, sacrifice, and how to lead with greater clarity and intention in the construction industry.

At Bradley Hartmann & Company, we help construction teams improve sales, leadership, and communication by reducing miscommunication, strengthening teamwork, and bridging language gaps between English and Spanish speakers. To learn more about our product offerings, visit bradleyhartmannandco.com.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems—whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization.

Have topic ideas or guest recommendations? Contact us at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

New podcasts are dropped every Tuesday and Thursday.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

Two quick questions:

1. Do you value independent thinking—from yourself and your team?

2. How do you create space for it on your team?

Most construction leaders say they value open dialogue, critical thinking, and intelligent, amicable debate . . . yet many unwittingly shut it down.

In this episode, host Bradley Hartmann uncovers the hidden habits that silence your team, the myth of "making people feel safe," and how to rethink your leadership to drive better decisions on the jobsite and in the boardroom.

In this episode you'll:

· Learn why independent thinking isn't about being contrarian—and why your team might be holding back.

· Discover the subtle ways leaders kill creativity (even when trying to be supportive).

· Examine the new talent on your team and question the risk of potential "organ rejection"

· Walk away with simple changes to your next meeting that will encourage better input, challenge assumptions, and improve outcomes.

Listen now to discover how to lead with clarity, create space for real thinking, and build a team that speaks up when it matters most.

At Bradley Hartmann & Company, we help construction teams improve sales, leadership, and communication by reducing miscommunication, strengthening teamwork, and bridging language gaps between English and Spanish speakers. To learn more about our product offerings, visit bradleyhartmannandco.com.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems—whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization.

Have topic ideas or guest recommendations? Contact us at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

New podcasts are dropped every Tuesday and Thursday.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

What's the right size for your business?

If your gut response is, "As big as possible!" you're not alone.

But that mindset can quietly invite unnecessary complexity, friction, and risk into your operation—especially when growth isn't planned or sustainable.

In this episode, we challenge the default assumption that bigger is always better in construction. Using insights from a legendary 100-year-old essay by biologist JBS Haldane, we explore how biological limits in nature mirror organizational limits in business—and why ignoring them could be hurting your team more than helping it.

In this episode you will:

• Discover the hidden trade-offs of scaling your construction business too soon
• Learn how biology explains why your systems are breaking as your team grows
• Get 3 crucial questions to ask before making your next big hire or opening a new branch

If you're leading a growing team and feeling the strain, press play now to rethink your approach and regain control.

P.S. If you're a Charlie Munger fan/disciple like host Bradley Hartmann, this episode is a prime example of Munger's call to think multidisciplinary—using insights from biology to sharpen leadership and decision-making in construction.

At Bradley Hartmann & Company, we help construction teams improve sales, leadership, and communication by reducing miscommunication, strengthening teamwork, and bridging language gaps between English and Spanish speakers. To learn more about our product offerings, visit bradleyhartmannandco.com.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems—whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization.

Have topic ideas or guest recommendations? Contact us at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

New podcasts are dropped every Tuesday and Thursday.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

When it comes to the behaviors on display during meetings—virtual or in person—do they meet your standards?

In this episode, Bradley Hartmann breaks down exactly why most leadership problems in construction aren't about people or strategy—they're about attention.

Through insights from Jamie Dimon (the JP Morgan CEO), you'll see how distraction, disconnection, and lack of curiosity silently sabotage your culture and performance.

In this episode you will:

• Learn 3 leadership habits you can apply this week to improve meetings and build trust—without adding software, policies, or bureaucracy.
• Understand the true impact of presence and curiosity on team performance and morale.
• Discover the power of "Beer and Immunity" and how to apply this field-tested approach to get real answers from your frontline crews.

Hit play now to learn how a few small leadership shifts can dramatically reduce rework, turnover, and meeting fatigue—starting today.

At Bradley Hartmann & Company, we help construction teams improve sales, leadership, and communication by reducing miscommunication, strengthening teamwork, and bridging language gaps between English and Spanish speakers. To learn more about our product offerings, visit bradleyhartmannandco.com.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems—whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization.

Have topic ideas or guest recommendations? Contact us at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

New podcasts are dropped every Tuesday and Thursday.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

What if your leadership's team's biggest risk isn't bad strategy, but unspoken, outdated assumptions?

In this episode, Bradley Hartmann reveals why even powerful mental models like Dr. Peter Drucker's Theory of the Business often get ignored by executive teams—and what you can do to change that.

Based on the recent outreach of a Construction Leadership Podcast listener, this episode uncovers how you can bridge the gap between strategy and action using a practical new diagnostic tool you can download below.

In this episode you will:

• Learn how to frame Drucker's model in a way that actually resonates with your leadership team.
• Discover the 6 critical assumptions every business needs to challenge—and how to map them.
• Get a proven tool to document your team's thinking, surface hidden gaps, and lead with clarity.

Listen now to learn how to align your executive team around what really matters—using one simple framework that drives results.

You can download the tool here.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems. Whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization, these conversations will equip you with tools to lead smarter and build stronger teams.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.

Are your construction projects successful on paper, but your team still feels chaotic, disconnected, or hard to manage?

In this episode, Bradley Hartmann digs deeper into the concept of organizational climate—a hidden force that could be sabotaging your team's cohesion and long-term success, even if you're hitting your deadlines.

Whether it's innovation being stifled by red tape or behavioral standards being overlooked for results, this episode helps you uncover what's really going on beneath the surface.

In this episode you will:

• Learn the 6 key elements that define your team's climate—and how you directly influence each one.
• Discover one practical self-assessment question for every climate factor so you can spot trouble before it turns into turnover or safety issues.
• Hear how a winning football program masked a broken culture—and what you can do differently as a construction leader.

Press play now to gain the clarity you need to lead with purpose, improve your team's performance, and fix the hidden cracks in your culture before they become chaos.

The Construction Leadership Podcast dives into essential leadership topics in construction, including strategy, emotional intelligence, communication skills, confidence, innovation, and effective decision-making. You'll also gain insights into delegation, cultural intelligence, goal setting, team building, employee engagement, and how to overcome common culture problems. Whether you're leading a crew or managing an entire organization, these conversations will equip you with tools to lead smarter and build stronger teams.

This episode is brought to you by The Construction Spanish Toolbox —the most practical way for construction teams to learn jobsite-ready Spanish in just minutes a day over 6 months.

***

If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback will help us on our mission to bring the construction community closer together.

If you have suggestions for improvements, topics you'd like the show to explore, or have recommendations for future guests, do not hesitate to contact us directly at info@bradleyhartmannandco.com.