Leadership for Tradespeople

LEADERSHIP FOR TRADESPEOPLE

November 11, 2026 | 7:30am to 3:30pm

Designed for tradespeople stepping into leadership roles, this hands-on class focuses on the shift from doing the work to leading the work.

Participants will learn practical strategies to lead crews, manage pressure, delegate effectively, take ownership, solve problems, and make confident decisions in real-world jobsite situations.

TOPIC 1: Leading by Example: Checking Your Gauges

 - Identify the 5 components of social / emotional integrety. 

 - Engage in jobsite situations to help regulate responses and emotions.

TOPIC 2: Moving from Doer to Director

 - Assess the strengths they bring to their job, team and jobsite/company.

 - Identify the mindset shifts needed from being a solo rockstar to leading superstars. 

 - Apply delegation and techniques to support accountability and leadership. 

TOPIC 3: Moving from "Wait to be Told" to "Taking Ownership" Mindset

 - Discuss one's ability when to act and when to communicate upward (leadership).

 - Apply the 1-3-1 rule in situations to support solution-oriented ownership. 

 - Assess one's decision boundaries to empower a crew leader to act fast. 

TOPIC 4: Bringing it All Together

 - Apply self-regulation techniques and empathy mapping to analyze high-pressure jobsite disruptions, mitigating impacts on crew safety and productivity.

 - Evaluate operational roadblocks using the 1-3-1 framework and decision boundary buckets to execute deleation and solution-driven escalations escalations without stepping in to perform tactical labor. 

INSTRUCTOR - JASON ANDERSON

As a 26-year member of the Carpenters Union, Jason has progressed through various levels of his career, including completing his apprenticeship, serving as a crew leader, working foreman, general foreman, project superintendent, and currently, field superintendent in the industry.

Jason is an experienced-based leader, as the majority of his knowledge and skills have been acquired through numerous projects over the years, on which he has led crews ranging from two to 150 individuals. Jason is passionate about providing effective leadership to his teams, and is committed to continuous learning and adaptation of leadership principles and practices for the better of the industry.

INSTRUCTOR - Sydney (Syd) Merz

Syd brings over two decades of experience in designing, developing, and optimizing leadership potential for an array of audiences and organizations. She spent the first part of her career working in intercollegiate athletics, providing leadership development and facilities management with the NCAA, University of Nebraska at Omaha, and the University of Oklahoma. Her work has supported education and nonprofits, and she has enjoyed HR stints with the Cleveland Guardians, Cleveland Clinic, and Heinen's.  Merz served two tours in the U.S. Peace Corps (Armenia and the Philippines) and is a proud small-town Nebraskan (Go Huskers!). In her spare time, you can find her wandering in nature or in new places, volunteering, playing pickleball, or coaching Special Olympics sports.