Mental Models and Building Strong Businesses

The best builders develop a complex 5D mental model of the project.

D. Brown Management Profile Picture
Share

This complex 5D mental model is then constantly kept updated. Through thousands of interactions with hundreds of people over years they “nudge” the project from concept through construction completion.

Leadership Tools: Mental Models and Building Construction Businesses

They make lots of mistakes but what keeps the project on-track is that they know what’s not fitting their mental model and they adjust quickly.  They have rigorous processes for managing design revisions, requests for information and a submittal process to ensure they are getting what they really want.  They have many routine meetings, planning and communication rhythms.

Building a construction business is no different; just more complex and (hopefully) continuing on for many decades.  It is critical for leaders at all levels within a contracting business to develop detailed mental models of the business as it operates today and as they want it to operate in the future.  

They must engage people who will challenge every aspect of that mental model just as a building design is challenged to make it better, more cost effective, faster, etc. 

This is where an unbiased but experienced 3rd party facilitator can really add value. 


Learn More:




Field Productivity - Talent Differentiation
Contractors can improve their field productivity significantly just through deliberate talent management processes. While the process of continuous forced differentiation seems harsh it is actually the kindest thing you can do for everyone on the team.
The Truth About Business Development
There are way more potential customers than you think, and most don't even know who you are. That's your biggest challenge and your biggest opportunity.
Steve Romero - 50 Hour Weeks
One of the best measures of a leader is how many other leaders they have built. A huge part of leadership development is having mentors and being a mentor to others.