The dance.

Bon Jovi is in the midst of nine shows at Madison Square Garden, after not touring since 2022.

That break followed serious vocal cord problems for frontman Jon Bon Jovi that threatened his iconic voice.

Last year, I saw Jon Bon Jovi on a news program talking about risky surgery and his tedious daily exercises.

He spoke of the physical pain and the emotions of not knowing if a comeback was possible. 😯

Critics and fans hadn't minced words a few years ago: Bon Jovi's strained and raspy voice was shot.

His bandmates tried to cover, but couldn't.

With all eyes and ears on Jon Bon Jovi, the band takes to the stage on opening night.

Surrounded by his bandmates, Bon Jovi sings the first few lines from Joe Cocker and the Beatles' song, With a Little Help From My Friends.

🎶The opening words boldly and wholeheartedly address the elephant in the room:

"What would you think if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and walk out on me? Lend me your ears, and I'll sing you a song, and I'll try n...

Toes in the sand.

Summer can feel like a chance to slow down and take a break.

But the best leaders use this time to spot problems before they become costly.🎯

When schedules are hectic, it’s easy to miss communication gaps.

More meetings happen, decisions are delayed, processes become shortcuts, and people start making assumptions.

That’s what I love about summer: the slower pace creates space to reflect.

➡️This is a good moment to ask yourself: What will you change now?

• Are there meetings that no longer have a clear purpose?

• Where do decisions tend to get stuck?

• Is there important knowledge that only one person knows?

• Which conversations have been put off because everyone was too busy?

When things get busy, problems show up.😯

When things slow down, take the chance to fix them now.🧨

Leaders who use the summer to improve communication and decision-making often start the fall with more clarity, stronger momentum, and fewer surprises.

What is one problem you can start working on right now?

Accelerating confusion.

The chaotic pace of change with AI can feel overwhelming.

From proposals and documentation to enterprise risk and conflict resolution, firms that strategically embrace AI have a significant competitive advantage.

➡️As these changes accelerate into 2026, A/E/C leaders faces a key question:

Is your firm's communication and decision-making infrastructure keeping pace with your technology investments?

High-performing firms don't simply use more tools. 

They're establishing clear communication standards, governance protocols, accountability, and measurable business outcomes.💯

Only six months remain to align leadership priorities in 2026.

Before the end of the year, A/E/C executives should prioritize:

✅Meaningful performance measures that connect AI investments to business results—not just technology adoption.

✅Consistent communication standards that keep AI-generated information accurate and client-ready.

✅Clear expectations that help employees use AI confidently, responsibly, ...

You decide.

Taking small, consistent actions each day can be an effective way to make progress toward your goals.

If you have reasons for not taking even a small step toward your goal, consider whether any of those reasons might be holding you back. 

🚩Another word for reasons is excuses.

Sometimes, what we see as reasons could also be seen as obstacles to progress.

Yes, we're all busy. Many people in A/E/C feel burned out, overwhelmed, or anxious. The world can feel beyond chaotic. 

And, even in tumultuous times, many people try not to let their circumstances keep them stuck.

Here's something to consider: Some of the most important conversations aren’t with bosses or partners. 

The conversations and communication you have with yourself are critical. 💯

Your self-talk. Your internal chatter. This is what matters most.

🥇Your internal narrative shapes your mindset and success. 

When you bypass reasons and focus fully on your goal, consistent action and accountability can help you reach the finish lin...

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.

You know how to build a room.

But do you know how to read a room?

Technical skills only get you so far.

In business, growing revenue isn't about technology or job titles.

It's about spotting subtle communication cues that give you:

🔷Greater influence
🔷New levels of respect
🔷Deeper connections

To get ahead, notice both verbal and nonverbal cues.

Pay attention to others' words, pacing, gestures, and expressions.

Here's the truth: Reading body language is key to negotiating and resolving conflict.

I learned this 30 years ago so I know it works. 💯

People who can read a room also exude confidence that most competitors lack.

Notice clues in your next interaction and start reading the room for a competitive edge.

Most of us expect to hear about design-build in the field, but let's talk about design-build as it applies to business development.

How are you going to sustain revenue and year-over-year growth?

It’s about designing and building your business development team.

📈To increase profitability and develop younger staff, firms must invest in project managers, superintendents, and estimators to help capture more pursuits.

Designing and building higher-level teams requires critical thinking skills, the ability to ask open-ended questions, the willingness to pivot and respond, and the confidence to articulate technical data to stakeholders.🎯

The coaching model I’m describing is an integral, ongoing part of leadership development.

It involves not just formal or occasional mentoring but also daily interactions in which PMs and other senior leaders identify in-the-moment teaching opportunities.💯

Business coaching—combined with mentoring—uplevels communication, clarity, and confidence.

This applies to le...

Three months into the year, a clear pattern has emerged in A/E/C communication.

Projects stall, decisions are delayed, and leaders have to step in to resolve issues.

Your mid-level managers are technically skilled, but they lack confidence when making decisions under pressure. This is known as decision confidence.

🚩They tend to overanalyze.

🚩They wait for buy-in.

🚩They escalate issues too early or after delays.

Executives recognize that hesitation among mid-level managers negatively affects timelines, profit margins, and the firm's credibility.

Here’s the bottom line:

➡️While your firm may prioritize technical training, decision-making should not rely on trial-and-error.

This approach doesn’t develop leadership; it increases risk.

If your managers can’t make decisions with incomplete information, communicate tradeoffs clearly, or support their position with clients, there is a breakdown in decision-making.

As I see time and time again, the core challenge is communication.🎯

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! 

The best gift of communication you can offer anyone is the gift of your attention.

It's great year-round. 

🔷It costs nothing and requires no shopping.

🔷There’s no need for fancy wrapping.

Paying close attention requires deep listening skills—fully focusing on the speaker, listening not just to the words but also to tone, body language, and emotions.

You can’t genuinely understand someone else’s perspective if you miss a few words or sentences they are expressing to you.

Learn how to pay attention without distractions. This is priceless. 

Focus on others and block out distractions—no phones, pings, or alerts.😮

Don't try "faking someone out" by acting like you're engaged when you're mentally drifting. 

Forget the email that needs to be sent. 

Forget that the car needs gas. 

Forget about stopping at the store.

The truth is that people notice when you're "checked out." Don't kid yourself.

🎯The better way is to be more self-aware. 

Exceptional communicators catch themselves qu...