Why KPIs Won’t Fix Your Crew | Construction Accountability & Training Operators | Ep. 18

Two listener questions this fortnight. First: do Herb and Jimmy actually use AI in their companies, and where is it going? Jimmy answers in one line, then tells on himself. His own system read three years and a few million data points, decided the money was in the west of the city and sent the trucks there. The company has made more money in the east ever since. Herb splits it into strategic, operational and tactical, builds an altitude spreadsheet in 30 minutes after years of being stuck on it, and both of them land on the same warning: it will take you from 80 per cent to the high 90s, and never to 100. Second: a 22 man site work outfit in central Pennsylvania has one GC at 35 per cent of revenue. They pay slow, they move the schedule weekly, and last year that work ran at 4 per cent while everything else ran 14. Everybody says fire them. Neither host does. Jimmy had the same customer at half his revenue and got them to 5 per cent in under two years without firing anyone. Herb's first move is to go and talk to them, above the people you argue with on site. Also in this one: Caterpillar's share price, 50 solar projects that became none, Blue Light Autonomous, exoskeletons, the robot Olympics, and a possible chimney fire. Starbuck Sargent is a fortnightly construction business podcast with Herb Sargent in Maine and Jimmy Starbuck in Melbourne. Two owners, two hemispheres, real questions from people running crews. Got a question you cannot ask anyone else? [email protected] Instagram: @starbucksargentpod

How do you get out of the weeds as a construction business owner without letting everything fall apart?

How do you manage a struggling employee? And how do you walk into a construction contract negotiation when six people are sitting across the table from you? In this episode of the Starbuck & Sargent Podcast, Jimmy Starbuck and Herb Sargent tackle two challenges faced by construction business owners and leaders: improving employee performance through clarity, coaching and accountability, and confidently negotiating for major construction contracts. They discuss why being a good boss starts with being human, how unclear expectations create resentment, and why accountability should be a structured process rather than simply a threat of getting fired. Jimmy and Herb also reflect on mistakes they made earlier in their careers, including times when they used the “club” instead of taking a more considered approach to leadership. They explore how company culture, communication and consistent expectations can help employees and businesses improve. Later in the episode, they answer a listener question about negotiating a public contract when the client has a much larger team in the room. They share practical advice on preparing for tough questions, understanding the client's concerns, demonstrating your experience and making your case without putting down competitors. IN THIS EPISODE: How to tell whether a struggling employee needs clarity, coaching or accountability Why leaders should be human first Setting clear expectations, outcomes and deadlines How to close the feedback loop with employees The difference between accountability for a task and accountability for a role Why difficult performance conversations become harder when you avoid them How communication and company culture affect employee performance Why accountability matters as a construction business grows Lessons from leadership mistakes made early in a career How to prepare for a construction contract negotiation Handling a room full of client representatives with confidence Demonstrating your strengths without criticising competitors Whether you're a construction business owner, contractor, project manager, supervisor or emerging leader, this conversation explores practical ways to build stronger teams, improve communication and approach challenging business situations. Got a question for Jimmy and Herb? Send it through using the contact details in the show notes. Your question could be discussed in a future episode. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to like, subscribe, share and leave a review. #Construction #ConstructionLeadership #ConstructionBusiness #EmployeeManagement #Leadership #Accountability #CivilConstruction #ContractNegotiation

When does loyalty to a long-term employee become unfair to the rest of the team?

Why do construction companies keep winning work but still struggle to make money? In Episode 20 of the Starbuck & Sargent Podcast, Jimmy Starbuck and Herb Sargent tackle one of the biggest problems facing contractors in a competitive market: bad bids, shrinking margins and the disconnect between estimating, the office and the field.