Advertise on podcast: The Old Dawg Leadership Podcast

EP 09 | The Power of Putting People First with Bill ChilesIn this episode of the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast, Adam Hoots and Mike Chiles step outside the construction industry for a conversation with Bill Chiles, a leader in the quick-service restaurant industry, about the power of putting people first.Bill shares a leadership philosophy centered on supporting the people closest to the work. While the restaurant and construction industries may look very different, both rely on frontline teams to deliver the experience, solve problems, maintain standards, and get the work done.The conversation explores servant leadership, mentorship, accountability, caring for people, sharing knowledge, and developing people beyond their current roles. Throughout the conversation, one message continues to surface: strong performance and strong people don't have to compete. Leaders can hold high standards while creating an environment where people feel supported, valued, and equipped to succeed.Topics include:• Putting people at the center of leadership• What servant leadership looks like in everyday practice• Supporting the people closest to the work• Adding value through small, everyday actionsKEY TAKEAWAYS:• Put People Closest to the Work First — The people doing the work are often the ones creating the customer experience and delivering the result. Leaders should focus on equipping them, removing obstacles, and helping them succeed.• Servant Leadership Shows Up in Small Actions — Leadership becomes real through everyday opportunities to help, serve, listen, and add value for someone else.• Everyone Has a Story — Leaders rarely know everything someone is carrying into an interaction. Approaching people with curiosity, dignity, and respect can change that experience.• Don’t Start With the Work — Before chasing results, understand the team, the existing culture, what came before you, and what people need from you.• Develop People Beyond Their Current Role — Great leaders invest in people knowing they may eventually take what they've learned somewhere else. The opportunity is to help them grow while they're with you.• The People Doing the Work Hold Knowledge — Leaders don't need to be the source of every answer. Creating opportunities for people to learn from one another helps knowledge spread throughout an organization.• Cared For People Care For People — When leaders care for and equip their people, that care can continue through the organization and ultimately reach the customer and community.• Accountability and Care Can Coexist — Bill shares how an early leader held him to high standards while also investing deeply in his growth, ultimately changing the direction of hiscareer.ABOUT OLD DAWG LEADERSHIP PODCAST:The Old Dawg Leadership Podcast features real leaders sharing real lessons learned from the construction industry. Hosted by Adam Hoots and Mike Chiles, the show delivers direct, practical conversations about leadership, people, performance, and building a stronger industry.RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:• A River Runs Through It• Lean Construction Institute (LCI)• LCI CongressGUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:Bill Chiles — A leader in the quick-service restaurant industry whose work focuses on supporting local operators and teams, developing people, strengthening culture, and helping frontline teams succeed.Adam Hoots — Co-host of the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast, Lean Builder, educator, and construction leadership advocate.Mike Chiles — Co-host of the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast and construction leader focused on developing people, teams, and industry culture.EPISODE QUOTES:“You can’t start with the work.”“We’re not the holders of all the knowledge.”“Cared for people, care for people.” ...“We may not all be in agreement, but we are in alignment.”PODCAST PRODUCTION: The Old Dawg Leadership Podcast is produced and edited in partnership with Marae Marketing.

Building Trust, Leading People with Hannu RatamäkiWhat can construction leaders in the U.S. and Finland learn from each other?In Episode 08, Adam Hoots and Mike Chiles are joined by Hannu Ratamäki, a Finnish construction leader and Lean practitioner with nearly 40 years of industry experience. Hannu shares how early lessons from his father shaped his approach to leadership and whytrust, respect, curiosity, and learning remain at the center of his work today. The conversation explores Lean construction, Last Planner, collaborative project delivery, and the challenge of moving from a well-developed plan into successful field execution.Ultimately, Hannu brings the conversation back to the people doing the work and the importance of leaders creating the conditions for teams to succeed together.KEY TAKEAWAYS:● Start with trust. Hannu believes trust should be given first, knowing it can be lost through actions and behavior.● Respect people as they are. Great leaders give people room to grow while providing support when it's needed.● Teaching is also learning. Staying curious allows leaders to learn from the same people they're coaching and developing.● Build the team before building the project. Collaborative projects benefit from establishing relationships, trust, shared values, and ways of working early.● Execution requires leadership. Technical planning alone isn't enough. Leaders have to help people carry those plans into the field.● Manage processes. Lead people. Construction needs both strong systems and leaders capable of supporting the people working within them.● Leaders don't need every answer. Hannu believes admitting what you don't know and relying on the strengths of the team can make leadership stronger.● Leaders don't have to be superhuman. Strong teams are built by recognizing and using the different talents of the people around you.ABOUT OLD DAWG LEADERSHIP PODCAST:The Old Dawg Leadership Podcast brings together real leaders with real lessons learned. Direct, practical, and no bullshido. Built by those who do. Shared for those who will.RESOURCE LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:● Lean Construction Institute (LCI)● LCI Finland● Last Planner System● Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) / Alliance Model● Target Value Delivery (TVD)● PDCA Cycle● J Michael Solutions – Community Spotlight SponsorGUESTS FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE:Hannu Ratamäki – Finnish construction leader, consultant, Lean practitioner, and leader within LCI Finland. Hannu has nearly 40 years of experience in construction and has spent years helping construction teams improve collaboration, planning, leadership, and project delivery.Adam Hoots – Old Dawg Builder's CommunityMike Chiles – Old Dawg Builder's CommunityEPISODE QUOTES (paraphrased):“Trust comes first. You can lose it through how you behave.”“Always stay curious enough to learn while you're teaching.”“You can manage processes and systems, but you lead people.”“You don't need to have every answer if you're a leader.”“Leaders don't have to be superhuman. They just have to be human.”“We can learn together, and we can teach each other. Small steps toward better.”Podcast Production: The Old Dawg Leadership Podcast is produced and edited in partnership with Marae Marketing.

Episode 07 | The 10 C’s of Effective Field Leadership with Joe DohertyWhat does it take to lead a jobsite well, day after day?In Episode 07 of the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast, Adam Hoots and Mike Chiles sit down with Joe Doherty, General Superintendent with Cornerstone Construction and Development, to talk about field leadership, developing people, and the 10 C’s of Effective Field Leadership Joe has built throughout his career in construction.Joe developed the 10 C’s after being asked to put into words the practices behind his successful projects. What started as a few ideas eventually became a framework for how superintendents can lead their teams, manage the work, and deliver results.The first five focus on the daily practices of leadership:• Create the plan• Communicate the plan• Control the environment• Clear the path• Collaborate with the teamThe next five focus on the outcomes and responsibilities leaders are working toward:• Complete on time• Contain costs• Continuously improve• Check your ego• Command the standardThroughout the conversation, Joe shares lessons from decades in the field about recognizing every person’s contribution, removing roadblocks for your team, continuously finding better ways to work, and understanding that the job is bigger than any one person.As Joe puts it, “If you don’t enforce a standard, you’ve actually lowered the standard.”🎙️ Old Dawg Leadership PodcastReal leaders with real lessons learned. Direct, practical, and no bullshido.Built by those who do. Shared for those who will.A big thank you to JMAR Solutions, our Community Spotlight sponsor for this episode.Podcast Production: The Old Dawg Leadership Podcast is produced and edited in partnership with Marae Marketing.

What does it mean to truly take care of your people?In Episode 06 of the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast, Adam Hoots and Mike Chiles sit down with Cal Beyer for an important conversation about mental health, suicide prevention, substance use, recovery, and the role construction leaders can play in creating a culture of care.Cal has spent decades helping the construction industry move beyond awareness toward prevention, readiness, and response. In this episode, he shares why mental health, substance use, suicide, overdose, and recovery need to be part of one connected conversation focused on whole-person wellbeing.The conversation also explores Cal’s Three V’s of leadership: visible, vocal, and vulnerable. For leaders, that can be as practical as walking the jobsite, knowing your people, starting conversations, and recognizing when someone’s normal behavior changes.In this episode:- Building a culture of care in construction- Mental health and suicide prevention- Substance use, recovery, and whole-person wellbeing- Moving from awareness to readiness and response- The Three V’s: visible, vocal, and vulnerable- Recognizing when someone may be struggling- Creating stronger connections between workers and available resources- The role everyday leadership can play in changing construction cultureCal also discusses resources available to construction leaders and workers, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, the Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention, Construction Suicide Prevention Week, SAFE Project, VitalCog, safeTALK, and QPR.The takeaway for leaders is simple: know your people, be willing to have the conversation, and be ready to connect someone with help when they need it.As Cal reminds us at the end of the episode: “If not you, then who? If not now, then when?”🎙️ Old Dawg Leadership PodcastReal leaders. Real lessons learned. Direct, practical, and no bullshido.Built by those who do. Shared for those who will.This episode’s Community Spotlight is Brent Darnell International, providing executive coaching for construction professionals from the field to the boardroom.Whether you're leading a crew, managing projects, or just beginning your career in construction, this kickoff episode offers practical wisdom you can put to work immediately. Join the conversation and discover why the best leaders don't create followers. They create more leaders.Connect with the Old Dawg Builder's CommunitySkool: skool.com/olddawgYouTube: @OldDawgsLinkedIn: Old Dawgs Builder's Community

In Part 3 of the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast’s Emotional Intelligence Series, Adam Hoots and Mike Chiles welcome Brent Darnell back to turn everything discussed in Parts 1 and 2 into practical action. The big question in this episode is simple: Once you understand emotional intelligence, how do you actually improve it? Brent walks through his Emotional Intelligence Roadmap, a practical framework for understanding where you are today, identifying where you want to improve, and creating a plan to get there. The conversation begins with knowing your own story and recognizing the patterns, triggers, strengths, and experiences that have shaped the way you lead. From there, the conversation moves into self-awareness, self-leadership, communication, empathy, emotional regulation, resilience, and decision-making under pressure. A major theme throughout the episode is that emotions are information. Learning to recognize emotions before they escalate gives leaders an opportunity to pause, process what is happening, and choose a better response. The group also discusses how stress can affect problem-solving and why managing your emotional state matters when making decisions in high-pressure situations. In this episode: Identifying patterns in your own storyBuilding stronger self-awarenessBalancing assertiveness with empathyCommunicating more clearlyRecognizing emotional triggersMaking better decisions under stressBuilding resilience and optimismCreating a written development planUsing reflection and accountability to support lasting behavior changeOne of the biggest takeaways from this three-part series is that emotional intelligence takes practice. Brent compares it to building any other skill. Growth comes through repetition, reflection, accountability, and time. Small changes in how you respond can eventually become lasting changes in how you lead. And the work does not stop at the final mile marker. The goal is lifelong learning: create a plan, measure your progress, find people who will hold you accountable, reflect on what is working, and keep moving forward. Special thanks to J Mikel Solutions, our Community Spotlight sponsor for this episode. Built by those who do. Shared for those who will.

In Part 2 of our three-part Emotional Intelligence Series, things get personal.Adam Hoots and Mike Chiles welcome Brent Darnell back to the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast, this time putting their own emotional intelligence and nutrition assessment results on the table for an honest conversation about vulnerability, stress, accountability, and personal growth.Brent walks Adam and Mike through their results and explains how emotional patterns can influence leadership, relationships, physical well-being, and performance. They dig into profiles like self-sacrifice, conflict avoidance, and “chasing shiny objects,” along with what those tendencies can look like on the job and at home.The conversation also explores the connection between emotional and physical health. From nutrition and burnout to stress and recovery, Brent challenges leaders to consider the whole person when thinking about performance and development.One of the biggest themes throughout the episode is accountability. Recognizing a behavior is only the beginning. Real growth requires practice, feedback, and people who are willing to call you out when old habits show up.

In Episode 03 of the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast, hosts Adam Hoots and Mike Chiles sit down with Brent Darnell, a longtime leader in emotional intelligence for the construction industry, to talk about what emotional intelligence looks like on the job and why it matters.Brent shares his journey from construction and acting into emotional intelligence and breaks down the science of EI in a practical way leaders can apply to their teams.The conversation covers alpha and control/perfectionist leadership profiles, emotional literacy, vulnerability, and the importance of understanding the root cause behind employee non-performance. Brent also shares his simple 1-to-10 check-in method and explains how leaders can recognize when they’ve slipped into emotionally disconnected “robot mode.”At the heart of the conversation is a challenge for the construction industry: healthier cultures start with leaders who are willing to understand themselves, communicate differently, and show up better for their people.In this episode:• What emotional intelligence really means• Alpha and control/perfectionist leadership tendencies• Brent’s 1-to-10 check-in method• Building emotional literacy and managing emotions• Finding the root cause of non-performance• Why vulnerability takes courage• Recognizing “robot mode”• Creating healthier cultures in constructionLearn more about Brent Darnell and access his free emotional intelligence test, nutrition survey, and body battery inventory at BrentDarnell.com.Special thanks to Jason Jacobson and J Michael Solutions for supporting this episode.Subscribe to the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast for more candid conversations about leadership, people, performance, and building stronger teams.#OldDawgLeadership #ConstructionLeadership #EmotionalIntelligence #Leadership #ConstructionIndustry

In this episode, Adam Hoots and Mike Chiles sit down with Jesse Hernandez — lean coach, founder of Depth Builder, and co-host of No BS with Jen and Jess — for a raw, honest conversation about what it really takes to grow as a leader in the construction industry. What You'll Hear: Jesse's Origin Story — Pain and failure are what shaped Jesse most. He came up as a competitive, aggressive tradesman whose only goal was to outperform everyone around him — until a mentor named Jim Jones delivered a hard truth: "If you don't change how you lead, don't complain when these guys are your boss." The Selfish Servant Framework — Jesse reframes selfishness as a leadership asset. The decisions that honored his own values and callings ultimately made him a better servant to the people in front of him. Kindergarten Metrics vs. Hot Sauce Leadership — Jesse breaks down why schedule, budget, and dollar volume are "kindergarten metrics" — easy to hit, but zero impact on people development. Hot sauce leaders invest in their people even when there's no system rewarding them for it. Management Skills vs. Leadership Skills — It's not either/or. You need both. But most organizations only measure one. The Lean Manager Story — Jesse shares a masterclass in earning trust on a jobsite that didn't want him there: show up, observe, suppress your agenda, find their pain point, and demonstrate a solution before you pitch anything. The Birth of Depth Builder & No BS with Jen and Jess — How COVID forced a reckoning that led Jesse to leave a dream job, launch his own coaching business, and eventually partner with Jen Nguyen to build one of construction's most vulnerable and authentic online communities. What the Industry Actually Needs Right Now — With 41% of the workforce retiring in the next five years, throwing money at the problem won't work anymore. Jesse makes the case for celebrating the unsung leaders — the ones taking all the blame and none of the glory — and why podcasts like this one are critical to that mission. Key Quotes: "Pain and failure are the primary contributors to who I am." "Pick your leader — forget the benefits, forget the money." "Let the problem pull the tool." "Do not complain about anything you're not prepared to take action upon." "I want to introduce people to the promise they're intended to be." Connect with Jesse Hernandez: Depth Builder No BS with Jen and Jess (livestreams) Community Sponsor: Brent Darnell — brentdarnell.com — Online courses and tools to help you operate at the highest levels of mental, physical, and emotional performance.

What is leadership, and what is it supposed to produce? In the very first episode of the Old Dawg Leadership Podcast, Adam Hoots sits down with construction veterans James Gable and Mike Chiles to explore one of the most important questions in the industry. Through stories from the field, hard-earned lessons, and practical leadership principles, they discuss why true leadership isn't about titles or authority. It's about influence, communication, and developing the next generation of leaders. From the "best finisher becomes foreman" dilemma to the 87/13 principle and the idea that leadership is caught more than it's taught, this conversation lays the foundation for everything the Old Dawg community stands for.  Whether you're leading a crew, managing projects, or just beginning your career in construction, this kickoff episode offers practical wisdom you can put to work immediately. Join the conversation and discover why the best leaders don't create followers. They create more leaders. Connect with the Old Dawg Builder's Community  Skool: skool.com/olddawg  YouTube: @OldDawgs  LinkedIn: Old Dawgs Builder's Community