Good to Excelente Newsletter

Author: bradley

  • A Summer Reading Detour: Cartels, Countries, and Consequences

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    Know someone who’d enjoy The Good to Excelente Newsletter? Forward this to them so they can subscribe here—and never miss a Wednesday edition packed with cultural intelligence insights and practical advice. As you’re planning your upcoming summer vacation, it’s time to consider which books you’ll be bringing along. I’ve got two suggestions for you. No, you won’t…

  • What AI Doesn’t Understand About Communication

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    Know someone who’d enjoy The Good to Excelente Newsletter? Forward this to them so they can subscribe here—and never miss a Wednesday edition packed with cultural intelligence insights and practical advice. Question:Derek from Arizona writes: “With AI translation tools getting better every year, are language barriers on the jobsite basically becoming a thing of the past? Or…

  • Why Great Leaders Pay Attention to These Holidays

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    Question:Tyler, a superintendent from Georgia, writes: “I know Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican 4th of July, but what is it exactly and why is it important? And then, are there other holidays I should be aware of when leading Hispanic crews?” Answer:Tyler: Love the question, so allow me to nerd out on the history…

  • It’s Not a Language Problem

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    The CEO’s question was a non sequitur. We’d been talking about the absurdity of competitive girls softball in Texas. Then he took a sip of his gin and tonic, scanned the steakhouse, and said: “If qualified Hispanic labor is our biggest constraint to growth right now, what do I need to know about becoming the…

  • Your Crew Isn’t the Problem. Uncertainty Is.

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    Question:Jason from Florida writes: “Sometimes it feels like our Hispanic crews jump into work quickly without asking many questions. The work ethic is great, but we end up with rework because something wasn’t fully understood. Is this a communication issue—or maybe something more?” Answer:Jason, I heard almost that exact observation from a gringo superintendent in…

  • 3 Ways to Encourage Engagement & Reduce BS.

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    Question:Mark from Alabama writes: “How do you get workers more involved on the jobsite? It feels like some of my crew are just going through the motions. They show up, do the work, and leave. Any suggestions?” Answer:Hi Mark. I love the question because it’s an important one. What you’re referring to is engagement—and when…

  • Crab Mentality: Why Workers Sometimes Pull Each Other Down

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    Question:Brian from North Carolina writes: “I’ve heard you talk about competition and machismo affecting behavior on Hispanic crews. Sometimes it feels like workers compete with each other instead of helping each other. Is that cultural—and how should a super handle it on the jobsite?” Answer: Brian, great question. Let me start with a conversation that caught…

  • What Kate from Oklahoma Can Learn from Johan Cruyff and “Skin Chickens”

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    Question: Kate from Oklahoma writes: “I took Spanish in high school and my mother is fluent. On the job site, I can get by, but as a woman I’m already feeling cautious. Other than completing your Construction Spanish course, are there things I can do to improve my Spanish? And second, how do I get over…

  • Why Your Hispanic Crew Isn’t Speaking Up (And What to Do Instead)

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    From a Project Executive in the Southeast: Question: One of our primary initiatives is implementing more principles of lean construction on-site. We have been struggling to gather feedback from our Hispanic craftworkers. Any suggestions on how to improve engagement? Answer: Great question. Feedback from the frontline is the fuel that powers lean transformations and the minimization of…

  • Power Distance, Caudillos, and the Standards We Set

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    It was Monday, August 14, 2000. First day on the job, first meeting as a construction professional. The vice president of construction stood at the front of the room, scanning the incoming class of new managers like a man already questioning the job offers he made. “I’ll leave you newbies with two pieces of advice,”…