“Multipliers are leaders who bring out the intelligence in others.”
by Liz Wiseman
THE ART OF LEADERSHIP
Are you multiplying talent or hoarding the spotlight?
Great leaders are multipliers who unlock latent intelligence. They ask sharper questions, extend ownership, and watch capability expand. Diminishers do the opposite. They overexplain, rescue too quickly, and keep everyone small. The choice is deliberate. Create space where people must think, and the room grows smarter. Performance follows thinking, not volume.
Consider Indra Nooyi inviting families into recognition, Satya Nadella shifting Microsoft toward a learn it mindset, and Julie Zhuo elevating first-time managers by clarifying expectations. Each multiplies by directing attention to talent, not title. They convert meetings into labs where experiments happen, and leaders emerge by doing real work.
To practice multiplication today, set a more apparent intent, ask What would make this ten times better, then hand ownership to the closest expert. Track the ratio of your talking to theirs return decisions to the edge with context and constraints. Celebrate the teammate who makes a colleague smarter, then repeat. Write learnings that everyone can see.
Ask sharper questions, assign ownership, reduce your talk time, and consistently return decisions to the edges daily.
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION
What if hiring labor felt truly effortless everywhere?
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FlexCrew grows from the vision of Damian Lang, whose journey from laying brick in Ohio to leading Lang Masonry, EZG Manufacturing, and Malta Dynamics shaped a builder-first mindset. Partnering with Alex, President of 3 Promise Labor Services, he imagined an Uber for construction that keeps people safe, productive, and paid on time.
Owners and field leaders choose the exact skills they need, bypass agency bottlenecks, and maintain communication flow within a straightforward app. Workers find steady opportunities and fair pay without chasing calls. Choose FlexCrew to move faster with confidence and deliver more work safely, while every shift strengthens your schedule and your margin.
INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY
Can toll roads spark a solar revolution statewide?
Construction is underway at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Western Regional Office in New Stanton for a solar microgrid that will also power Pennsylvania State Police Troop T barracks. CEO Mark Compton said the agency is advancing safety, sustainability, and reliability as the system targets service in early 2026.
It is the second microgrid in the network, following a Greensburg array that saves more than $400,000 a year by selling energy back to the grid. Director of Facilities Operations Keith Jack said solar strengthens resiliency while local crews continue installation with a natural gas generator as backup.
Next steps include up to fifteen solar generation sites along the roadway, more electric vehicle chargers at service plazas, pollinator habitats, and continued fiber installation. The commission says the effort supports a goal to become America’s first sustainable superhighway by 2040 while cutting costs and hardening operations for storms and heat.
RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH
Will hiring heat backfire amid rising construction layoffs?
Construction hiring needs have heated up today. NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz reports that open construction jobs jumped to 306,000 in July, up from a revised 242,000 in June, even as total U.S. openings fell to 7.18 million per the JOLTS report. The construction openings rate reached 3.5 percent, higher than a year ago, signaling that crews are still hard to staff during peak schedules.
The mix is noisy. The construction layoff rate rose to 2.8 percent while the quits rate slid to 0.9 percent, the lowest in the data series. That combination points to churn rather than a simple slowdown. Fewer voluntary exits help superintendents hold crews, yet unexpected layoffs can ripple through subs and stretch finish timelines.
Builders should use the window. Lock key trades with longer purchase orders, expand cross-training for weather days, and book earlier inspections to bank labor when it shows up. Purchasing leads can stretch bids by offering quicker pay cycles and onsite storage. If the Fed cuts this fall, backlogs could thicken fast.
TOOLBOX TALK
The Importance of Magnetic Drill (Mag‑Drill) Safety
Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today’s toolbox talk covers mag‑drill safety. These portable drills bite steel fast, but a lost magnetic hold or bad setup can drop the tool or grab clothing in an instant.
Why It Matters
Common injuries include crushed hands from a shifting drill, eye injuries from hot “slugs,” and entanglement in rotating cutters. A falling mag‑drill from height can be fatal.
Strategies for Safe Mag‑Drill Use
Prep the Surface – Clean rust/paint; ensure flat, sound steel of adequate thickness. Use a safety chain/tether every time.
Power & Hold – Verify full magnet engagement and indicator lights are on. Plug into a GFCI outlet and confirm that the cord routing won’t tug on the drill.
Inspect Tooling – Check the arbor, pilot pin, and annular cutter for wear/cracks; ensure the guard is in place; and verify there is no loose clothing or jewelry.
Clamp Work & Control Chips – Secure plates; use cutting fluid; keep chips cleared with a brush, never with your hands.
Feed & Stance – Two‑hand control, steady feed; stand out of the ejection line. Expect the slug to drop catch with a tray, not your palm.
Vertical/Overhead Work – Add secondary support, chip/slug catch, and a dedicated spotter; stop if vibration loosens the hold.
De‑energize Before Adjusting – Unplug to change cutters or reposition; stow the cable and chain the drill when not in use.
Discussion Questions
Where will we need tethers and chip/slug catchers today?
Are our cutters sharp and pilot pins seated correctly?
Conclusion
Clean steel, confirmed magnet, sharp cutters, and a safety tether keep mag‑drill work precise and injury‑free.
Chain it, check it, drill it safely!
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