Recent Articles

• Balancing compassion and performance in a pandemic world

  Courtney Lynch Construction & Building Materials

  When I served in the Marines, we had a saying: Mission first, people always. Everything about leading Marines came down to achieving results in times of challenge, chaos, and uncertainty while taking care of your people. Now, as an executive coach, as I’ve helped my clients navigate pandemic times, often I’ve been guiding them in demonstrating service-based leadership. Leading with service is about acting selflessly on behalf of others to ensure their success. It’s about the simple actions you take to support others so they can thrive. The great news for leaders is that service can be demonstrated in the simplest ways.

• 6 ways construction companies can lower carbon emissions

  Construction & Building Materials

  Recent reports from the United Nations Environment Programme found that the construction industry accounts for 38% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. Under the Paris Agreement, the building sector must operate at “net-zero carbon” by 2050. For this target to be possible, cosntruction carbon emissions need to halve by 2030. All construction firms need to do their part by following environmentally friendly practices. Here are six methods to implement for lowering your company's carbon footprint.

• Infographic: How to set work boundaries to avoid burnout

  Pia De Los Reyes Construction & Building Materials

  With remote work being the new professional normal, it can be especially challenging to stay productive and separate job stress from our personal lives. When stress is high and maintained over a period of time, it can lead to burnout or a type of work-related stress that can have a myriad of negative effects on your health and productivity. Those experiencing burnout can suffer from fatigue and mental exhaustion, and it can also lower work performance and cause job dissatisfaction. Over time, burnout can increase your vulnerability to disease and even potentially cost you lost income because of unpaid sick leave or a missed promotion.

• With succession planning, avoid the ‘Alice in Wonderland’ syndrome

  Donald F. White Construction & Building Materials

  Do you remember Alice, the little girl who fell down a rabbit hole and ended up in Wonderland? As Alice wandered about Wonderland, she came upon a Cheshire Cat with a distinctive, mischievous grin. Too many people are on their way to somewhere, with little to no idea what or where somewhere is. They assure themselves that someday they’ll know what and where somewhere is because, well, aren’t they on their way there? Sadly, when it comes to business continuity and succession planning, most business owners are like Alice — on their way to somewhere, yet with little to no idea what or where somewhere is.

• 5 ways to increase productivity in manufacturing

  Stephanie Armstrong Construction & Building Materials

  Productivity in the manufacturing process is critical as low work levels equate to money lost. If your company's production output isn't aligning with the business hours, examine how to improve efficiency. Not only does quickening and organizing the workflow save time, but it also allows you to produce more goods to increase profits. It's important not to cut corners as this will likely diminish the quality and lead to complaints or even recalls. Examining the current practices will help you discover what's slowing down the process. If you aren't sure what changes will enhance productivity, here are five factors to consider.

• What’s the difference between 2D drawing, 3D modeling and BIM?

  Anna Liza Montenegro Construction & Building Materials

  From cave paintings to complex live 3D models, humans have come a long way when it comes to drawing and visual representation of objects. Architects, engineers, and construction (AEC) professionals can now do everything on a single computer; T-squares and rulers are not as popular as before. Computer-aided 2D design, 3D modeling, and BIM may all seem similar to a layman, but their differences are far more prevalent in reality. This article aims to explore the use of these three techniques, as well as their advantages and disadvantages.

• How bollards increase security at commercial and outdoor spaces

  Jon Schram Construction & Building Materials

  In recent years, we have seen a tremendous shift in the importance of safety, not just inside commercial spaces but outside as well. With the idea of security on everyone's mind, more and more facilities, including schools, retailers, and private businesses are looking to do their part in preventing ram-raiding, vehicle intrusions, and pedestrian incidents. Because protecting both your building and infrastructure as well as the pedestrians around your commercial or outdoor space is critically important, many facilities have chosen to install bollards for increased safety and security.

• Will the lodging industry’s supply growth outpace demand?

  Linchi Kwok Construction & Building Materials

  The COVID-19 vaccination rate is climbing steadily in the U.S. At its current rate, three in four people, or 75% of eligible residents, will be vaccinated by June. Businesses are reopening. The U.S. economy is now operating at 88% of its pre-pandemic level, with hope for continuous improvement. According to STR, a world-leading provider for data benchmarking, analytics, and marketplace insights for hotels, the U.S. lodging industry reported the highest demand and occupancy levels since the pandemic began for the week ending April 10. Furthermore, the U.S. opened 220 properties, or 26,057 rooms, in the first quarter of 2021.

• How AI is affecting commercial real estate now and what to expect in near…

  Stewart Dunlop Construction & Building Materials

  Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology that is currently transforming almost all industries, from the IT sector and marketing to agriculture and everything in between. Commercial real estate is not an exception.

• What’s the BIG Idea? Episode 2: Steve Jurash on leading through crisis

  Hank Boyer Construction & Building Materials

  In this video, Hank Boyer visits with Steve Jurash, president of the 5,000-plus member Manufacturing Alliance of Philadelphia (MAP). MAP represents several hundred thousand manufacturing employees. In March 2020, Jurash led MAP through an incredibly challenging period of dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, an event that brought manufacturing everywhere to a sudden halt. With several hundred thousand employees' lives affected by his decision-making, Jurash faced one of his most challenging periods of leadership. He shares more than 20 best practices effective leaders use to navigate during periods of crisis.

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