1% Better: The Small Steps That Lead to Real Lean Adoption with Adam Hoots
Wed Dec 17 2025
In this episode of Construction Trailblazers, host Samantha C. Prestidge sits down with Adam Hoots, founder of Construction A CHE Solutions and self-described Lean Construction Shepherd, for a real conversation about what lean construction looks like when you actually respect the people doing the work.
With more than 24 years of boots-on-the-ground experience and as a PhD candidate at Clemson University, Adam shares how his career began in the field as a teenager, why traditional lean transformations fail, and how ego, overwork, and poor planning continue to hurt both projects and people across the construction industry.
This episode goes beyond tools and buzzwords. Adam breaks down why coaching beats consulting, how leaders can earn buy-in without barking orders, and what it really means to balance the technical and human sides of construction. We also dig into superintendent burnout, accountability without micromanagement, and why getting “1% better” matters more than chasing massive overhauls.
If you’re a construction owner, superintendent, project manager, or operations leader who wants lean to actually stick on real jobsites, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership, planning, and respect.
Key topics covered:
Lean construction coaching vs traditional consultingWhy most lean transformations failGetting real buy-in from trades and field teamsAccountability without ego or micromanagementThe human cost of poor planning and overworkLeading with transparency instead of authoritySmall, practical steps to improve jobsite performanceTimestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Adam Hoots 02:28 Starting in construction as a teenager 07:05 College, career shifts, and early lessons 10:22 Lean construction and industry-wide challenges 11:53 Coaching teams and teaching at Clemson 12:58 Personal challenges and building community 14:10 Lean principles vs construction culture 21:34 Work, leadership, and personal sustainability 22:22 The “nail in the head” leadership metaphor 23:23 How to get buy-in on projects 25:26 Accountability without micromanaging 33:35 What it means to be a Lean Construction Shepherd 42:01 Practical ways to get 1% better 44:53 Final thoughts
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In this episode of Construction Trailblazers, host Samantha C. Prestidge sits down with Adam Hoots, founder of Construction A CHE Solutions and self-described Lean Construction Shepherd, for a real conversation about what lean construction looks like when you actually respect the people doing the work. With more than 24 years of boots-on-the-ground experience and as a PhD candidate at Clemson University, Adam shares how his career began in the field as a teenager, why traditional lean transformations fail, and how ego, overwork, and poor planning continue to hurt both projects and people across the construction industry. This episode goes beyond tools and buzzwords. Adam breaks down why coaching beats consulting, how leaders can earn buy-in without barking orders, and what it really means to balance the technical and human sides of construction. We also dig into superintendent burnout, accountability without micromanagement, and why getting “1% better” matters more than chasing massive overhauls. If you’re a construction owner, superintendent, project manager, or operations leader who wants lean to actually stick on real jobsites, this conversation will challenge how you think about leadership, planning, and respect. Key topics covered: Lean construction coaching vs traditional consultingWhy most lean transformations failGetting real buy-in from trades and field teamsAccountability without ego or micromanagementThe human cost of poor planning and overworkLeading with transparency instead of authoritySmall, practical steps to improve jobsite performanceTimestamps: 00:00 Introduction to Adam Hoots 02:28 Starting in construction as a teenager 07:05 College, career shifts, and early lessons 10:22 Lean construction and industry-wide challenges 11:53 Coaching teams and teaching at Clemson 12:58 Personal challenges and building community 14:10 Lean principles vs construction culture 21:34 Work, leadership, and personal sustainability 22:22 The “nail in the head” leadership metaphor 23:23 How to get buy-in on projects 25:26 Accountability without micromanaging 33:35 What it means to be a Lean Construction Shepherd 42:01 Practical ways to get 1% better 44:53 Final thoughts