Step up.

Moving into leadership roles may feel exciting, daunting, or downright scary.

Especially when project managers transition from job sites to client meetings.

Communication is the linchpin of A/E/C career growth.🎯

Not just sending RFIs on tablets or sharing drone-generated 3D models for BIM.

I mean productive toolbox talks, clarity in high-stakes client meetings, and resolving misunderstandings with colleagues about CRM content.

➡️Human-to-human interactions make or break deals and career trajectories.

October is Construction Careers Month, a reminder that despite AI and technology, good old-fashioned interpersonal communication is how we grow professionally and personally.

Procore Technologies recognizes this, too.

I'm thrilled to partner with Procore and bring my pioneering communications training to construction companies worldwide.🙌

To uplevel your skills and career, don't underestimate human-to-human communication.

It's time to learn.

It's time to step up.

The real deal.

Around the world, people continue to pay tribute to Dolly Parton's legacy.

What stands out about Dolly's life is her simplicity and lack of pretension.

Whatever she was doing—singing on stage, acting in a film, or giving a one-on-one interview—Dolly always seemed down-to-earth.

Here are 7 takeaways from her life that we can apply to business, communication, and our own lives:

🔷On showing up: It was no secret; Dolly often spoke about wearing wigs. Why pretend, she said? Although she had a public image, the woman was genuine.

🔷On relating to people: The 80-year-old legend made people feel seen. Whether singing to millions or talking to one person, she communicated with warmth and without pretense. Not every celebrity or leader can do this. Dolly was straightforward; she spoke plainly, and people listened.

🔷On curiosity: Dolly believed curiosity could change a life.

In 1995, she launched her "Imagination Library" in her home state of Tennessee. Children around the globe have rece...

The first website.

The world's first website went live 35 years ago today. 🎂

The site was actually called the World Wide Web project and explained how to use it.

What the heck has happened to our world and communication since August
6, 1991?

I would need a decade, multiple therapists, and a big pot of coffee to "go there." 😯

For now, we can laugh about a simpler way of life.

🧨Can you relate to my Top 10 Internet Memories?

1. Using an AOL email address

2. Hearing that ear-piercing dial-up sound on the modem

3. Having to hang up the telephone to go online

4. Saying WWW before the actual web address (no one said "URL")

5. Receiving lengthy emails from the King Prime Minister Ruler of the Emirates that he had a $20m trust fund account from my long-lost maternal great-uncle

6. Understanding that having a virus didn't require a medical diagnosis

7. Printing interesting webpages

8. Grabbing free AOL floppy discs...everywhere

9. Watching images load line by line

10. Using Netscape Navigator

Interestingly, ...

I’m super grateful to welcome a new coaching client who found me through the communication course I developed and teach in partnership with Procore.

After just 3 private sessions, he’s already seeing life-changing results (his words, not mine). 💯

Results like this make my heart sing.

This is the most rewarding part of what I do:

Connecting with A/E/C professionals who commit to continuous learning and growth.

🎯That mindset builds the foundation for stronger leadership, better collaboration, and long-term growth—professionally and personally.

Reach out so you can nail your communication.

Today, everyone is in marketing.

Most A/E/C professionals, however, don't see themselves as marketers, business developers, or salespeople.

Especially highly skilled technical people.

You might not have a degree in marketing or sales. It probably wasn't your original plan.😕

But technical professionals often need to scale back the tech talk that can confuse stakeholders and clients.

Most are interested in the end result, not the process. They want to see the WOW—the finished product.⬅️

Project managers, superintendents, and estimators need a mindset shift that embraces marketing as part of their roles.

An example I heard years ago will likely resonate with you: Sell the painted room, not the paint.

🎯Here’s the bottom line: Those who focus on the WOW, not the HOW, connect and engage with stakeholders.

This is your ticket to increasing trust and profits.

Underestimating clarity is dangerous in business.

Without clarity, there's confusion. ⬅️

The result is poor communication that causes assumptions, delays, and weakens trust.

🚩It's almost impossible to execute ideas when people are confused.

In A/E/C, unclear communication increases risk.

One thing I often hear from clients: “Everyone thought someone else handled it.”

This is not a business strategy.

Successful leaders own their communication. 💯

They model straightforward communication because they know their teams are watching.

Small talk is a big deal.

Here's why it matters.

Because it drives revenue and requires subtle, respected confidence.

Yet most say low confidence holds them back at networking events, meetings, and conferences.😕

No more excuses! 

➡️Use the communication tips below to boost your confidence and create stronger business connections.

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Three words can reveal a lot about A/E/C managers and principals.

This phrase reflects your leadership style.

🚩When new hires hear this response, they often feel discouraged. It can be frustrating and even make them feel inadequate.

Saying 'figure it out' often leaves people feeling undervalued, especially when they’re trying to learn how things work.

Newcomers to our industry want to understand the basics so they don't have to keep asking the same questions.

➡️Where can I find this?
➡️Could you please clarify the punch list for me?
➡️Is this the latest documentation?

Leaders should recognize that new team members want to learn, do well, and meet expectations.

If someone still needs a lot of help after a reasonable amount of time, there may be a bigger issue.

But in the first few months, it’s normal to feel overwhelmed.

There’s a learning curve.

Responding with 'figure it out' comes across as passive-aggressive.

It can negatively impact company culture, team morale, and project results.

When leaders...

If you’ve ever veered off the success path and detoured into “Pity City,” there’s a powerful, yet simple phrase to get back on track. 

➡️Nine short words. That’s it. 

When I’m in the middle of a struggle, rough patch, or “woe is me” moment, I mumble these words to myself. 

Sometimes out loud. Sometimes in my head. 

🔷Yep, I turn to a 9-word phrase that always helps me refocus and reframe. 

These words remind me of the fortitude, power, and strength I have to persevere. 

Many women, especially those in construction, navigate a litany of challenges that test their physical, emotional, and mental states every single day. 

👷‍♀️Our observance of Women's History Month reminds us of the pioneering women who have shaped our industry. And those who continue to work and lead in the contruction field. 🥇

Regardless of your gender, my nine words…stay with it, stay with it, stay with it…reminds us of our collective purpose and why we do what we do. 

You got this! 

I’m seeing a recurring leadership risk inside A/E/C firms right now.

Strong project managers get promoted; their technical performance is consistent, but something quietly breaks down in high-stakes conversations with clients, principals, or internal teams. 🚩

The risks are higher, and expectations shift from expertise to influence—subtle but critical.

Leaders sense it early.

The hesitation, the over-explaining, and the missed cues are warning signs. 

These moments erode trust and can affect a leader’s credibility—even when intentions are good.😮

The challenge isn’t confidence or personality.

➡️The real issue is conversational judgment. It’s a skill that’s rarely measured until it’s already had an impact on results. 

Typically, it's a negative impact that results in frustration and lost bids.

🔷This month, I’m opening a small number of private Leadership Conversation Audits for firm leaders who want clarity around a specific emerging or newly promoted leader—and what to correct, coach, or recalibr...