Strategy matters, but people don’t execute strategy; they execute how they feel. Anxiety spreads faster than plans, and your mood becomes the room’s weather. If you want consistent performance, you have to create resonance: calm when pressure spikes, confidence when ambiguity rises, and genuine appreciation when effort is high.

Start with yourself. Notice the emotion you’re carrying into a conversation, name it, and choose the behavior you want to model. Then read the team: who is discouraged, who is energized, who is confused? Ask one question that invites honesty, listen without rushing to fix, and reflect on what you heard. Emotional intelligence shows up as restraint, empathy, and clarity, especially in hard feedback.

Build simple practices that keep emotions aligned with the mission. Open meetings with a quick check-in (“What’s your biggest concern?”), close with commitments and thanks, and celebrate progress publicly. When tension rises, slow the pace: summarize, decide, and explain the why. Over time, people will associate you with steadiness and momentum, and they’ll bring their best to the work.

Build resonance by naming emotions, asking one honest question, and closing with clear commitments.

Cuesta Construction frames its edge as disciplined clarity: strategic planning, efficient construction, and tight project management, delivered through open, direct communication. It claims more than 20 years of exceeding expectations by pairing innovation with principal involvement, so decisions stay close to the work and clients stay informed.

The company traces its roots to a childhood pact among brothers Michael, William, and George Cuesta. Although operations formally began in 1996, the vision took shape a decade earlier, and the same family teamwork still guides a staff of estimators, project managers, engineers, and superintendents who coordinate the trades on multifaceted jobs.

Its philosophy is to lean into complexity, treating the most challenging projects as the ones most worth doing. Cuesta aims for a seamless, customized process with single-source accountability, using reporting tools to keep owners current while protecting quality, schedule, and budget. Service, innovation, quality, and experience are positioned as the operating system that turns craftsmanship into predictable outcomes across sectors, from luxury residences to medical facilities.

Cuesta turns complex builds into certainty through principal-led teamwork and single-source accountability.

In 2026, cities across the United States are preparing to open a new wave of transit lines, following the opening of more than 160 miles of fixed-guideway rail, buses, and similar projects in 2025. Another roughly 94 miles are projected to come online this year, a pipeline that signals steady demand for roadway, station, and systems contractors.

The notable shift is toward bus rapid transit and arterial rapid transit, which can be delivered more quickly and more cheaply than light rail. These projects often rely on dedicated lanes or signal priority rather than new tracks, which moves budget from rail hardware into pavement, curb work, drainage tweaks, power, communications, and accessible platforms.

For builders, success depends on managing traffic and utilities while proving performance on opening day. Agencies will demand repeatable station kits, tight control of intersection phasing, and commissioning that links vehicles, fare systems, real-time information, and safety equipment. Firms that can bundle civil, electrical, and ITS work into a single coordinated plan will achieve schedule certainty and reduce change orders.

Standardize corridor packages and prioritize signal integration to ensure on-time openings.

Washington is debating whether OSHA’s proposed heat injury and illness standard will move forward. A new House bill would block the agency from finalizing the rule, while OSHA continues its rulemaking record after last summer’s hearings. For homebuilders, the policy tug-of-war matters because summer production plans and subcontract agreements are being set now.

If a heat standard lands, daily operations change: defined temperature triggers, acclimatization for new workers, ready access to water and shade, paid cool-down breaks, and tighter incident and training logs. Those controls can slow peak afternoon output, but they also reduce lost days from illness, emergency responses, and stop work orders that ripple across multiple trades.

Competent builders are acting before the outcome is known. Start earlier, shift heavy tasks to the mornings, add shade at staging areas, and rotate crews through lower-exertion work. Bake expectations into subcontracts, keep simple checklists for supervisors, and track near misses like any other quality defect. The goal is predictable production with fewer medical and schedule surprises.

Plan heat controls now to keep crews safe and projects moving.

Morning, crew. Today, we keep the site clean and clear so no one trips, gets poked, or gets struck. Pick up as you go, keep walkways open, and stack materials so they cannot roll or fall. Coil cords and hoses, mark elevation changes, and clean spills immediately. If you create debris, you own it until it is in the bin. We will do a quick housekeeping check at break and at shift end.

Most jobsite injuries start with clutter, loose material, poor stacking, and blocked access. Debris hides holes, makes footing uneven, and forces people into bad paths around equipment. Housekeeping also reduces fire risk by removing combustible scrap and keeping exits and stairs clear. The key is pace: work cleanly, stage materials once, and maintain a clear walking and lifting lane. If you see it, fix it, or call it out.

Good housekeeping is a daily control, not a cleanup at the end. When walkways are clear, materials are stacked, and cords are managed, the whole job runs more smoothly. Take ownership of your area, help your neighbor when the pace gets busy, and speak up when access is blocked. A clean site prevents trips, protects hands and ankles, and keeps everyone focused on quality work.

Leave every area cleaner than you found it, so nobody trips or gets hurt.

Discover what drives conversions for your competitors with Gethookd. Access 38M+ proven Facebook ads and use AI to create high-performing campaigns in minutes — not days.

Start your free trial