b'engaging directly with workers andmake good decisions was fun andconstruction became fans of the even high school students in theheartwarming. Teds talent for play,team by the end of the project! The community. A standout examplevulnerability, recognizing everyone,project team also salvaged some was the design of a roundaboutbeing present, using rituals to buildof the windows from the building at the main entrance of an activetrust and most important to me,demo and gave them back to school district. By inviting highguiding the team to know how theythe neighbors to use rather than school students to share their ideas,are greater than the sum of its partssending them to the dump. the team discovered practicalfelt like a Lean parable. Barbeque solutions that worked for everyone.Sauce.Superintendent, Eric NeillKey takeaways for jobsite culture This approach highlighted theThe results: a culture of excellencePositive, people-centered leadership power of curiosity over judgment,drives measurable results. fostering collaboration andThe outcomes of the initiative were innovation.transformative:Establishing a collaborative culture Our industry has a hallowedA sense of family and camaraderieearly can turn new, untested teams tradition of telling each otheremerged among the team, extendinginto high-performing groups. who, what and how were screwingbeyond professional boundaries.A focus on empowerment, up. Were trained to focus on theThe project met its schedule amidempathy, and resilience creates negative and spend an inordinateCOVID challenges and used less thanadvocates out of clients and team amount of time and talent trying1% of the owners contingency fund.members alike. to prove it to each other. That wayThe owner, designers and tradeConclusion: Flowing into the future of work is unnatural to me and haspartners became advocates of eachWhen Eric introduced our team to the been a struggle for 40 years.Myother, eager to collaborate on futureshow, seeing Teds leadership approach Lean journey has given me toolsprojects. to change this peculiar institution.and how closely it tied to Lean principles Watching Ted Lasso lead byCommunity members neighboringwas a game-changer on how we earning trust and helping peoplethe jobsite who once disliked theapproached our project. Through a very challenging time in the construction industry, we were able to create a culture where people were excited to work, felt heard and were empowered to share their opinions and ideas. Chris Koch of Hollis + Miller Architects as well as Dr. Charlie Belt and Seth Shippy of Voss Lighting offersthe Blue Springs School District were comprehensive solutionsinstrumental in helping us implement for all your lighting needs this culture. from specification and design to installation andIt is so vitally important to stay commissioning. curious on your project. Every day Let our lighting specialists helponsite, there are professionals working you create a brighter, morewho have years of knowledge, experience efficient learning environmentand creative genius to improve the site. both in the classroom and on the field. Take the time to stop and listen, and youll be amazed at how much better they make your project. CALL US TODAY TOBy adopting this initiative, you COMPLETE YOUR NEXTwill inspire to lead the industry LIGHTING PROJECT! in cultivating jobsite cultures that St. Louis: (636) 660-0088 inspire excellence, innovation, and Kansas City: (816) 471-8677 repeat partnerships. The Flow Like Lasso initiative at Blue Springs School District demonstrates that a vosslighting.com construction project is as much about building relationships as it is about building structures. 18|SCHOOL PLANT MANAGER MAGAZINE|SUMMER 2025'