AGC’s Phil Thoden on Being an Early Adopter in Construction
In our inaugural episode of The Future of Construction podcast, our host Chloe Smith, Founder and CEO of Mercator.ai welcomes Phil Thoden, President of the Austin Chapter of the AGC. Phil Thoden emphasizes the critical role of technology in enhancing efficiency and problem-solving, advocating for the adoption of digital tools to streamline processes. Phil also discusses the importance of cultivating a welcoming culture to attract younger talent, highlighting how a positive onboarding experience can make a significant difference.
Additionally, Phil shares his perspectives on the future of the construction industry. Phil also highlights the importance of fostering a welcoming culture to attract younger talent, ensuring they feel valued and engaged. He also discusses the need for diversity within the workforce, explaining how showcasing diverse individuals can reshape perceptions and broaden the talent pool.
#1: Master People Skills for Success in Construction
“You need to have those interpersonal skills to get buy-in from those people. In 1 minute you're talking about bonding and finance stuff or you're talking to an owner and in the private building world, all the owners are a little bit different. In the highway world, you're just dealing with a department of transportation. So that's one way of presenting yourself. But when you talk to building contractors, they may be working for a hospital that has a certain set of values. They may then work for a tech company that has a certain way of wanting to work. You might work with a church or whatever.
“So I think those people skills really come in handy for you to operate at the highest level of success in construction. Obviously, the first thing you need to do to be successful in construction is to be a quiet doer. You need to get projects done or a similar team of people who can get the projects done. But I've just seen those people's skills really work wonders with the companies that I've dealt with, you know, whether here in Austin or nationally.”
Actionable Takeaway: Building strong interpersonal skills is crucial in construction, as different clients and sectors require unique approaches. Whether you’re working with tech companies or hospitals, adapting communication styles and forming relationships can make or break your success in this industry.
#2: Maximize Efficiency with Construction Tech
“Somebody in construction tech really enlightened me about these processes with an example, which I've used and I think makes sense to most people. So consider the surgeon, right? What is the best use of a surgeon's time? It is being inside of you, fixing whatever is wrong — clipping, sewing, removing, adding whatever. The more time that they spend doing tests and arguing before any surgery about ways to proceed. That is a massive waste of the best use of their time.
“So think about that with construction. If you show up at a job site at 8:00 o’clock with the construction team and everybody just goes around in a circle and argues about what's wrong and who's to blame, and next thing you know, it's lunch, what a colossal waste of time. But if you have video capture technology that overnight has gotten an update on where everything is and identified problems with the quality of the construction and identified where you're behind or ahead with the schedule, etc., or where you're behind or ahead with costs.
“Okay, at 8:00 everybody has all those facts. Okay, we know what the facts are. Let's do what we do best, which is solve problems and let's get this done. So I think that's the way I see these technology solutions. There's not going to be one that magically creates a workforce of master electricians, but you can do things that just, even if it's half an hour of time that you're not wasting, chasing something down, that's half an hour somebody has to do something else and be more efficient.”
Actionable Takeaway: Implement video capture technology to optimize meetings and problem-solving on construction sites. By providing real-time updates on project status and issues, you can reduce wasted time on discussions and focus on action, making your team more efficient and productive.
#3: Onboarding Is The Key to Retaining New Construction Talent
“I love talking to people about how they onboard, because when it comes to the workforce, you always hear, ‘we have money to train people, and we have places to train people, and we'll talk to their parents, and talk to the schools, and we'll get these kids excited about construction.’ Okay, do that. But the next component is they have to have a good first experience.
“If they go into a bus-all situation where they've been sold this great life and ‘I'm gonna do well and in construction’ and their first job is just everybody's a jerk, Porta Potties are filthy, nobody cares to invest their time. And helping this person, it's like, ‘what am I doing here? I was sold this great path and I feel like I've been hoodwinked.’ And they're never going to come back.
“The really smart companies really focus on onboarding. I talked to a guy this morning who stopped by the office and I asked him, ‘how do you work with new people?’ And he said, ‘yeah, we have interns come from the local high school kind of east of town. And so they come through and we show them what we're doing. We have stocked ponds in the back, so if you just want to go before work or after work and fish, you can do that.”
Actionable Takeaway: First impressions matter. Construction companies must create positive first experiences for new employees, with supportive teams and a welcoming environment. Smart onboarding can prevent early turnover and build long-term loyalty by showing that the company values its workers.
Full Episode Topics
Listen into the full interview to hear discussion about:
- How embracing technology, particularly AI and digital tools, can streamline construction processes and enhance overall efficiency in project management.
- The importance of creating a welcoming culture to draw in younger generations, ensuring they feel valued and engaged in the industry.
- The significance of showcasing diverse individuals in construction to reshape industry perceptions and attract a broader talent pool.
- The need for cultural changes within the industry to address issues like overwork and stress, promoting better work-life balance.
- How effective communication and collaboration among team members are essential for successful project execution and minimizing conflicts on job sites.
- The importance of adopting sustainable practices and technologies to ensure the long-term viability and success of the construction sector.
- The transformative impact of technology in construction, highlighting how digital tools can streamline processes and improve project efficiency.
- How a strong onboarding process is vital for new hires, helping them integrate smoothly into the company and feel supported from day one.
- The significance of showcasing diversity within the construction industry to reshape perceptions and broaden the talent pool.
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