Episode 196: ‘Construction Mentality’ with Adam Hoots
In this episode:
Christi and Angela welcome Adam Hoots to discuss lean construction as “flow,” centered on respect for people, emphasizing that high-performing teams require intentionally developing high-performing individuals and optimizing global project flow. He describes shifting his mission to elevate and serve skilled craft workers by spending time in the gemba, “standing” on projects to focus on workers’ needs, connection, and ergonomics, including sharing photos with craftspeople. Drawing from managing over $1.5B in technical projects for clients like Stanford and the University of Florida, he highlights construction as a socio-technical business where communication and emotional intelligence matter as much as technical skill, sharing a lesson about unclear direction. They discuss managing stress through self-awareness and choosing responses, and ways to pass construction wisdom to the next generation via podcasts, books, university engagement, teaching, consulting, and improving industry conditions to boost retention.
Show Notes and Links:
00:00 Show Takeover Intro
01:20 Lean Flow Mindset
02:52 Building High-Performing Teams
04:49 Serving Craft Workers
06:26 Stand the Project
10:21 Technical Builder Lessons
13:39 Emotional Intelligence Under Stress
16:18 Passing Wisdom Forward
20:43 Closing and Next Guest
About Adam:
Adam began his career in the construction industry as a plumber's helper and then as a red-line architect’s helper while attending the University of South Florida. Over the past 20 years, he has steadily advanced his career and has held a variety of roles within the industry.
Adam has successfully completed more than $1.5 billion in pre-construction and construction services for a diverse group of industries, including healthcare, higher education, industrial, life science, retail, and hospitality. Most projects have been in life science and high-tech laboratory construction for clients, such as Stanford University, Oregon Health Science University, National Institute of Standards & Technology (NIST), and the University of Florida (NIMET).
A highly technical builder, Adam excels in efficiency, action, visual communication, and continuous improvement using Lean principles. As an avid, life-long learner, Adam has earned numerous credentials. His achievements include Lean Construction Coaching Professional (LCCP), Green Globes Certified, LEED Accredited Professional in Building Design and Construction, BCSP STS-C, AGC CM Lean, Takt Master, and Scrum Master.
Adam is passionate about elevating and empowering the construction industry partners and those around him. He works hard to drive respect to our skilled craft professionals and intentionally creates environments where capability development and innovation are encouraged.
He serves on several community boards, including Skilled Trades Alliance (www.skilledtradesalliance.net), KidSney (www.kidSney.org), National Kidney Foundation (www.nkf.org), RECAB (Regional Education Center for Advisory Board - Greenville, SC), and SC Career Kids (www.sccareerkids.com). Adam is proud to continue his service to the construction industry through his coaching business, Construction ACHE Solutions.
