Most leaders either soften feedback to avoid discomfort or swing to bluntness that bruises trust. Kim Scott’s line names the productive middle. Caring personally means you know the person beyond their output: their goals, pressures, and what “good” means to them. It’s shown through listening, making time, and following through on your commitments. That investment reduces defensiveness before you ever deliver a critique.

Challenging directly means you don’t leave people guessing with hints or sarcasm. You point to a specific behavior, explain the impact, and set a clear standard without attacking character. When done well, direct challenge prevents “surprise” reviews, protects quality, and helps strong performers stretch rather than plateau. It also teaches the Team that standards are real and fair.

Use a simple script: “I’m saying this because I care about your success. When I observed, the impact was. Next time, please.” Then ask, “How do you see it?” Agree on one next step and a check-in date. If you’re wrong, own it quickly; if you’re right, stay steady. Close by asking what support they need and removing one blocker.

Give caring, direct feedback in every 1:1 and remove one blocker each week.

AECOM is a global infrastructure consulting firm that partners with clients to deliver a better world. It starts from a simple belief: infrastructure creates opportunity for everyone. When cities grow, transit networks expand, and water systems function, communities can thrive, access improves, and the planet benefits.

That mission comes with responsibility. AECOM focuses on reducing emissions, delivering social value, and building a welcoming workplace so people can do their best work. The company emphasizes listening to clients and the communities it serves, then applying technical excellence and digital innovation to turn ambitious goals into practical, lasting outcomes.

Its teams include planners, designers, engineers, consultants, and program and construction managers who support projects from early planning through delivery and operations. Founded in 1990 through the merger of five firms, with predecessors dating back more than 120 years, AECOM has expanded through dozens of additions and now reports 16.1 billion in fiscal 2024 revenue. Recent recognition includes top design rankings, Fortune admiration, and Ethisphere ethical honors.

AECOM pairs global expertise with responsible delivery to create sustainable infrastructure that improves everyday life.

A political threat to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge has turned a near-finished Detroit–Windsor megaproject into a live business risk. For builders, the structure being “substantially complete” is not the finish line. The finish line is a functioning port of entry with operational systems, trained staff, and a clear date for first traffic.

This kind of uncertainty hits hardest in the final mile: testing, commissioning, security systems, communications, tolling integration, and coordinated “go-live” drills with border agencies. If approvals or staffing slip, contractors can get stuck carrying extended supervision, safety, and temporary works while specialty subs remobilize for punch-list fixes. Suppliers may also demand faster payment or stricter terms as the political landscape becomes more volatile.

Firms can protect margin by treating closeout as a separate phase with its own risk plan. Tie major procurement and demobilization to objective readiness milestones, not optimistic opening windows. Maintain daily documentation of directives, standby time, and rework causes, and keep a fast-turn plan for resequencing crews onto plaza work, roadway tie-ins, or warranty items. When the opening date changes, the contractors who can clearly demonstrate impacts will be paid fairly.

Lock closeout, staffing, and approvals before you demobilize crews.

New data show that building materials used in residential construction are rising again, with year-over-year growth in the mid-single digits and the sharpest jump since early 2023. Metals are the loudest signal. Certain finish and trim items have spiked dramatically, and volatility is spreading into mechanical components, fasteners, and specialty brackets that rarely drew attention in calmer cycles.

For builders, the risk is not just higher costs; it is the speed of change. Quotes expire faster, subs hedge with wider allowances, and small line items stack into real overruns across hundreds of homes. Estimators who rely on last quarter’s takeoffs can miss the new baseline, while purchasing teams get hit with surprise lead times that push starts or force substitutions that create warranty headaches later.

The practical response is tighter cost control and earlier buy decisions. Identify the top 20 cost drivers tied to metals, lock pricing where possible, and pre-approve alternates so field teams are not improvising. Add escalation language to long-duration scopes, rebid critical packages on a set cadence, and communicate changes to sales so incentives do not quietly erase your margin.

Rebid key materials often and lock pricing before scheduling starts.

Distraction turns routine walks into injuries. A quick text, a long conversation, or earbuds can block the cues that keep you safe: backup alarms, forklift horns, changing ground conditions, and co-workers’ warnings. Most struck-by, slip, trip, and fall incidents begin with someone looking away or thinking about something else.

Treat your attention like PPE. Keep phones in active work areas and use them only in a designated, safe spot. When walking, keep your eyes up, keep your hands free, and focus on one task at a time. Use marked walkways, slow down at corners, make eye contact with operators, and never step behind moving equipment. If you must carry materials, plan your route and ask for help when your line of sight is blocked.

Watch out for each other. If you see someone distracted near traffic or equipment, speak up and guide them to a safe place. A two-second reminder can prevent a long recovery. Today’s commitment is simple: pocket the phone, pause before crossing paths, and stay present where the work is happening.

Pocket phones, keep eyes up, and stop only in safe areas.

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