Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder: Daily Summaries Delivered

Be Curious, Not Judgmental: The Neuroscience of Leading Construction Teams with Roxanne Evans (Episode 96)

Be Curious, Not Judgmental: The Neuroscience of Leading Construction Teams with Roxanne Evans (Episode 96) In this episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, host Adam Hoots is joined by Mike Chiles and special guest Roxanne Evans, owner of Brain Balance in Lee's Summit, Missouri. This conversation picks up where an earlier episode on neurodivergence left off — diving deeper into how the brain develops, how technology and modern lifestyles are widening developmental gaps, and what construction leaders can do about it. Roxanne brings a rare combination of perspectives: a former educator, a mother of four boys, and an operator of a Brain Balance center for nearly a decade. Her journey into brain health began with her own son's struggles with attention, focus, and emotional regulation — and the transformation she witnessed after going through the Brain Balance program became the foundation of her life's work. The conversation dives deep into: Why the brain's base operating system — built from birth to age three — determines how we process and respond to everything around us How developmental gaps that were once one to two years are now three to five years wide, starting in kindergarten Why the real problem isn't just screen time — it's the absence of physical movement that compounds the damage The two behavioral profiles Roxanne sees most on job sites: turtles (shut down and withdraw) and race cars with no brakes (always busy, rarely productive) Why a worker on their phone may not be lazy — they may be overwhelmed and avoiding a task they couldn't process How a leader's own emotional regulation sets the tone for the entire team What mirror neurons are and why some workers can't learn by watching — no matter how many times you demonstrate Roxanne also answers a question that lands for every leader in the room: why can you handle a five-alarm crisis at work with a calm two-level response, but blow up at home over something small? Her answer — that home is where the brain finally relaxes its performance — reframes the problem entirely and points toward practical solutions. This is a rich, practical episode that challenges construction leaders to see their people through a new lens — not as underperformers, but as individuals whose brains may need different support to thrive. Because when leaders build better brains on their job sites, everybody wins. Key Takeaways: Everything Starts in the Brain: How the brain perceives, processes, and responds to information determines behavior on and off the job site. Gaps in this base operating system show up as attention struggles, emotional dysregulation, and difficulty completing tasks. The Developmental Gap Is Wider Than Ever: Where prior generations saw a one-to-two-year developmental gap, today's workforce is seeing gaps of three to five years. The age of full brain maturity has shifted from 25 to around 35, meaning many workers are functioning at a younger cognitive and emotional level than their age would suggest. Tech Isn't the Only Problem — It's the Absence of Movemen

Better, Faster, Together: Building Global Lean Community with Derek Sinnott (Episode 95)

In this wide-ranging episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, Adam Hoots connects with Derek Sinnott, a self-described pracademic from Wexford, Ireland. Derek is a civil engineer-turned-academic at SETU (South East Technological University), a Lean coach, and the Chair of the Supply Chain Sustainability School in Ireland. Adam and Derek first crossed paths in Japan, and the conversation that unfolded there clearly stuck — because Derek showed up in Ireland when Adam brought a team of Clemson students over for a construction competition, and that says everything you need to know about who Derek is. Derek opens up about his background growing up on a farm, finding his footing in engineering after struggling through secondary school, and ultimately discovering his true calling in training, coaching, and developing people across the construction industry. The conversation dives deep into: • Why the biggest inefficiency in construction is the illusion of collaboration • The difference between being efficient and being effective when coaching teams • What sustainability really means in Ireland — and why it goes way beyond green building • The supply chain as the true value-delivery engine of every project • Why early contractor involvement is critical, and what it looks like when done well • How asking good questions leads to better relationships — and better buildings Derek also shares his deep respect for trade workers and frontline teams — the people who actually put nail to formwork — and reflects on what real respect for people looks like in practice. He talks about the power of simply walking

Lean at the Crossroads: Culture, Community, and Congress with Elizabeth Taylor (Episode 94)

Lean at the Crossroads: Culture, Community, and Congress with Elizabeth Taylor (Episode 94) In this heartfelt and high-energy episode of Hoots on the Ground with No Bullshido, Adam Hoots sits down with Elizabeth Taylor, National Director of Lean at JE Dunn Construction and 2026 LCI Congress Co-Chair, to talk about leadership, culture, and what it really means to build community in construction. Elizabeth shares her journey from project management to Lean coaching, including her AMAZING Lean experience on the Williston Rec Center project in North Dakota, where living onsite and stumbling through The Last Planner System® created lifelong relationships and a powerful example of what Lean culture can truly look like. The conversation dives deep into: • The difference between Lean tools and Lean culture • Why relationships accelerate project performance • How to move from "doing Lean" to being a Lean organization • The importance of field-first thinking and supporting trade workers • What it takes to lead at scale inside a national construction firm Elizabeth also opens up about personal loss, vulnerability, and how the Lean community has supported her during one of the most difficult seasons of her life. This episode goes beyond business, it's about humanity, leadership courage, and creating intentional spaces where people belong. Check out Elizabeth illustrating true vulnerability, live in person as she handles the questions from Hoots. <spa

1 in 4 Builders are Neurodivergent. Lean Might Be Built for Them! – Hosted by the Chiles Bros (Episode 93)

The Chiles Bros: One Lean Geek. One Old Dawg. (Episode 92)

In this absolutely, positively NO Bullshido kickoff episode, Adam Hoots sits down with Brian Chiles and Mike Chiles—two brothers with deep roots in relationships, leadership, and Lean thinking lived out in the real world. Brian came into construction from a teaching/coaching and project management background; Mike brings 20+ years in the industry, raising four kids while remaining relentless about respect for people and building teams that work together. This conversation is equal parts family, field, and flow. The Chiles Bros unpack why Lean is not a tool, why relationships are the real work, and how the best leaders "feed the hungry" instead of wasting energy trying to convince people who don't want it. They talk about being curious, not judgmental, the difference between explaining tools vs. teaching them, and why the 87/13 (character over competency) shows up, whether you like it or not. If you're trying to build trust, reduce conflict, and lead people—not just tasks—this one is a straight shot of Old Dawg wisdom with a Lean Geek edge. KEY TAKEAWAYS: • Feed the Hungry: Stop spending 80% of your time trying to win over the 20% who don't care. Find the receptive people and build momentum through them. • Tools Don't Stick Without Trust: It's easy to explain A3, 5S, and planning tools. It's hard to teach them without relationships and psychological safety. • Optimize the Whole: The best projects don't pit field vs. office. They create one team—shared reality, shared plan, shared wins. • Be Curious, Not Judgmental: Great leaders pause before reacting, look for the system issue, and consider what wounds/stress might be driving behavior. • 87/13 Leadership: Your character is influencing people whether you intend it or not—choose whether that influence builds trust or triggers defensiveness. <p class="MsoNormal" style="

Family, Flow, and Old Dawgs with Jeff Reilly (Episode 91)

In this no-bullshido episode of Hoots on the Ground, Adam Hoots sits down with "Old Dog" Jeff Reilly—a devoted father, husband, and superintendent with Mill Creek Residential Trust whose leadership philosophy bridges family, craftsmanship, and continuous improvement. From his Boston union roots to leading modern Lean projects, Jeff shares how lessons from his ancestors, parents, and mentors shaped his mindset on respect, environment, and the true meaning of Kaizen. Together, Adam and Jeff dig deep into what it means to balance family, work, and wisdom in today's construction world. They explore how true leadership comes from presence—not just productivity—and why the best Lean builders know that mentors don't always know that they're mentors. From developing young leaders to honoring the OG Old Dawgs Buddy Brumley and Mondo 3K, this conversation reminds us that Lean is more than tools—it's a mindset built on humanity, humility, and legacy. Key Takeaways: • Family-First Leadership: Jeff draws strength from his union roots and family traditions, building teams the same way his parents built him: with presence, purpose, and pride. • Kaizen with Purpose: Lean isn't about checklists or buzzwords; it's about creating environments that respect people, improve daily, and flow with intention. • Mentors Matter: Every worker is conditioning someone else; be self-aware enough to model the example you wish you'd had. Key Quotes: • "Presence builds people. Productivity is just the result." • "Lean isn't tools—it's how you show up for your team." • "Your kids and your crew need the same thing: your time and your attention." • "Every Old Dawg was once a young pup watching someone else." • "Environment is leadership—design a space where people can succeed." ABOUT HOOTS ON THE GROUND PODCAST: The Lean Builder's absolutely, positively NO Bullshido podcast. Join host Adam Hoots and his guests as they dig deep into the topics that matter most to those in the field. With stories from the trenches, lessons learned, and plenty of laughter, this podcast is for the men and women doing the hands-on work of construction. <span style="font-famil

The Old Dawgs Live at LCI Congress (Episode 90)

Recorded live inside the Lean Construction Institute's Live Podcast Booth at LCI Congress 2025, the Old Dawgs got together for an unfiltered, field‑first discussion. This fast‑moving conversation captures what decades of hard‑won (700+ years) experience have taught these seasoned Lean builders about the superiority of modern Lean construction methods over traditional methods. Led by podcast host Adam Hoots, this is one "Hoots on the Ground" episode you DO NOT want to miss! (And if you usually go audio-only for our podcasts, this one is one to WATCH – 12 Old Dawgs crammed into a podcast studio – you can see and feel the passion!) From the origins of Lean Construction to the latest experiments in production planning, the Old Dawgs trade war stories, share missteps, and reveal the practical moves that create flow, reliability, and above all respect for environments and people. You'll hear how they've adapted The Last Planner System® practices for tough schedules, why Takt thinking clarifies handoffs, and how real trust is built when leaders keep promises and elevate the voices of craft professionals. What the Old Dawgs get into during this podcast: The shift from "tools talk" to a people‑first culture that enables tools to work. How trust, psychological safety, and clear promises drive schedule reliability. Evolving Last Planner System behaviors (constraints removal, PPC as coaching, daily huddles that add value). Using Takt planning to simplify sequencing, stabilize labor, and reduce chaos at handoffs. Preconstruction to production: designing for flow, defining capacity, and right‑sizing batch sizes. Leadership on the deck: what foremen and supers need from project leaders to protect the crew's time. Respect for People in action: craft voice in planning, mental health, and creating environments where capability grows. Rapid‑fire reflections: the one behavior each Dawg would start tomorrow to improve team performance. Key takeaways include:

Farm Boy Flow with a Bit of Grit with Boone White (Episode 89)

In this no-bullshido episode, Adam Hoots chops it up with Mississippi's own Boone White, a farm-raised boy, Christ‑follower, husband, dad of three, and unapologetic agitator for change. He is a General Superintendent with ICM Construction in Oxford, Mississippi. Boone traces his path from the old "yell‑and‑cuss" era to a worker-first approach powered by Last Planner, Takt, and disciplined make-ready planning. From Houston to Mississippi, he breaks down how humility and curiosity, not just grit, unlock flow, safety, and calmer, more predictable jobs. The duo tackles integrating CPM/Takt/Last Planner, empowering trades to innovate, training the next wave of supers, and focusing on the real constraint: human-centered leadership. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Grit isn't a strategy; when paired with humility and curiosity, we can design a better workflow. CPM, Takt, and Last Planner can (and should) work together to plan for flow. The top constraint is leadership capacity: developing people, not just schedules. Celebrate field-driven improvements—innovation snowballs when it's recognized. Safer, cleaner, clearer sites = respect for people and better project outcomes. KEY QUOTES: "Grit gets you started; humility and curiosity get you flow." "When trades own the plan, safety and predictability show up." "CPM, Takt, and Last Planner aren't rivals—they're instruments in the same orchestra." "Clean, calm, and clear is what respect for people looks like in the field." RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED: The Lean Builder | www.theleanbuilder.com | Blog, book, resources, and a hub for the lean construction community. LCI – Lean Construction Institute | www.leanconstruction.org | Training, events, and thought leadership. Outbuild | www.outbuild.com | Scheduling platform aligning Last Planner, CPM, and Takt. "The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement" & "It's Not Luck: Marketing, Production, and The Theory of Constraints" — Eliyahu Goldratt | Theory of Constraints fundamentals. "Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss without Losing Your Humanity" — Kim Scott | Care personally, challenge directly. "Bottleneck Ru