With this episode, I'm rolling something out that's a bit different. Maybe you'll like it, maybe not.
Like most of you, I do a lot of training, job and daily work activity preparation while holding onto a steering wheel. There is something about the austere environment that the front seat of a truck can provide. I try to use the time as best as I can. Occasionally, it'll be music in the background, but most of the times it's going to be a podcast. Trying to add some mind expansion while commuting.
For the past several months, I've been mounting my GoPro with my Hollyland Lark M2 microphone, and when the moment strikes, simply hitting "Record" and riffing. Most of what I'm recording ends up on the proverbial cutting room floor. But, I'm playing around with the combined mediums. I gaining confidence in posting. And I'd like to think that my brain dumps are somewhat interesting, sometimes thought provoking. So many podcast hosts have provided me with knowledge & ideas to incorporate into action items, or to write about, or to just dwell on, trying to tie their experiences & knowledge with mine in my industry.
So, I'm going to try to post more of these shorts. We'll see what happens.
In this episode, I riff on ideas surrounding "Consistency."
Links from the episode:
Engineering Management Institute
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Welcome back Team! It's great to be with you again!
In this episode, I revisit (somewhat...) some concepts from Episode 20 - Preparing for the Operation. but with several new twists & angles.
Question: How prepared are you for the workday. In this episode:
--I dissect my performance on a recent EMA callout
--I discuss what it means to be Fit for Duty: What condition are we in? How is our performance impacted by:
--And I refresh some of the areas of focus we discussion in Episode 20:
I close out with a couple of ideas looking forward to our little construction engineering community
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
When you hear the term"shelter in-place," what do you think about? My first inclination has me needing to remain where I'm at. Indoors. In a safe place. Away from an impending event.
But, how appropriate would it be for me to consider that Ishelter in-place, say, when I'm in an uncomfortable position? Maybe I'm asked to push myself a little, to do something new, to go someplace I've never been, or to try a new skill that I'm not 100% sure is a good fit for me.
This week, I'm at the2025 American Concrete Pipe Association's Pipe School. As I'm finding out (this is my first time attending...), it's a gather of industry brothers & sisters who work with concrete pipe: Producers, suppliers, engineers, sales & marketing, and probably lots of other sects that exist.
Today is Day #1 of the conference, and already, I've take two Rite-in-the-Rain pages of notes. I would be doing a disservice to the Construction Engineering Show community if I didn't pass these along.
One of the themes of today's kick-off presentations is appropriate title of this episode. Pushing ourselves beyond our normal day-to-day doings and trying something new, extending a hand and meeting someone, being in the presence of humans (not on a Teams or FaceTime call) is the way we were meant to communicate with each other. We all pushed ourselves a little bit today, and it was a really cool reminder of the need for us to extend ourselves and our influence with each other. Start new conversations. Step into the unknown. Try to make an impact with something you know.
There will be more nuggets to pass on, I can guarantee it. I'm happy to publish this episode and push myself to get out there a little bit more & often.
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Contact Page Link
"The secret of good writing is to strip every sentence to its cleanest components. Every word that serves no function, every long word that could be a short word...these are the thousand and one adulterants that weaken the strength of a sentence."
--"On Writing Well" by William Zinsser
As professionals, how we communicate is a reflection on us. It's a reflection on our skill & acumen. It's a reflection on our team, our company, and our concern and respect for our reader.
Writing is a craft. It takes practice. Nobody is a great writer. We all write bad first drafts. It's in the revision process where bad writing gets better. It's in the editing process where better writing gets good.
It takes practice. It takes reps.
And the same goes for verbal communication. How we speak, how we convey messages, how we convey our knowledge clearing & concisely is also a reflection on us as professionals
In this episode, I dive in on both subjects. How can we become better communicators. I offer a few ideas for all of us (myself included...) to help us become better conveyors of information.
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Contact Page Link
Hello Team! It's great to be back with you after a bit of a hiatus.
For the past several months, I've been working on a municipal improvement project. The project is located in a residential subdivision in a southwestern Chicago suburb and has required me to keep dozens of plates spinning simultaneously: On-site troubleshooting, design changes, coordination with the municipalities, residents, local police/fire/schools and of course, working hour-by-hour with the contractor and his activities. It has been one of the most difficult management projects I've been involved with, simply from the standpoint of the seemingly dozens of inputs & outputs that require me to have my finger on the pulse of all of them.
I've been managing projects for decades and have developed, over the years, numerous different ways and system for tracking open issues. I've used Expedition. I've used task apps. I've used Excel, in spreadsheet & pivot table form. I've tried Outlook task flags & To-Do's, and I've tried to incorporate Trello with it. And I know there are dozens of software & applications that are similarly built for managing issues and streamlining processes. But for me, through all the trial & error, the one fail-safe that never lets me down is the simple use of pencil & paper.
For this project, I've built a one-page, hand-written, 4-category tracking sheet that has been perfect for me. It's allowed me to review it when I start my day, refer periodically throughout the shift, and update it quickly when issues are added, updated or closed. I'm going to stick with this system as it is simple, easy & maintainable.
The 4 categories of issues I'm tracking are:
1. General List of Open Issues
2. Notifications
3. Tracking Today
4. Inspections
I've uploaded a sample here and have posted a similar link to the template at Hildebranski.com. Feel free to check it out. Use it. Change it. Let me know what of it works for you, and/or what you've tweaked to customize it for yourself.
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Contact Page Link
As I was debriefing this past week (and really, much of this past month...), it occurred to me that I ought to consider sharing my personal "Lessons Learned" with the crew, thinking & hoping that maybe there are a few useful takeaways for all of us.
Topics in this Debrief include:
-Starting at a new company
-Filling-in for someone on another project
-Being curious & willing to ask questions
-The importance of relationships in the construction industry
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Contact Page Link
I had an opportunity to interact with a group of high school students and had a great time. The Illinois Tollway (who our company is working for) hosted the students to introduce them to all of the different kinds of careers that are possible. It was a great time, the students & their instructors were great. The group got a chance to visit one of the active construction sites to see what a bridge under construction looks like.
We broke the students into two groups and I got to talk to them about surveying. I brought out several of our instruments and showed them a level, a robotic total station and our GPS unit. It was fun for me, breaking down, what could be a very complex topic, into basic concepts that teenagers could understand. I had a blast.
Afterwards, a few of us were debriefing the event, and it struck me hard: This is the next generation of construction professionals. High school students, just like the ones we met today, will be taking my place. So I asked myself:
What am I, and what are we doing to introduce them to what it is we do?
And moreover, how are we letting them know that what we do is really cool?
The takeaway from my discussion is an easy one: It's up to us. We are the senior members of the industry who need to carve the paths for the next generation of construction professionals to travel. The generation before us paved the way for you and I, we need to do that for them.
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
I am putting this out there: How can I be of service to you? What questions do you have? What issues are you working through in the jobsite that a seasoned member of the industry could help you with?
I haven't been doing enough. I've been letting you down. We have a small but growing community of sitework professionals who come here to get a dose of positive impact. And I've been lax in pushing you & I forward. I've dropped the ball. I haven't been getting the messages out. I haven't added any tools to your toolbox. Not good.
This is a call to action-Send me a DM on Linked in. Leave a comment here. Hit me up at my website. Leave a message in the Spotify Q&A attached to this episode. Let me know what I, and our growing community can do to increase your percentage of impact. Let's Go!!
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Hello Construction Engineers! It's great to be back with you for Episode #27.
Being a college instructor, learning is a front-and-center part of my life. As much as I hope the students are learning under my tutelage, I am learning as well: Learning how to speak. Learning how to break concepts down. Learning how to present materials in a digestible format. Suffice to say, we are always learning.
In this episode, I talk about how we, as people involved in construction, need to be cognizant of our need to constantly be learning. Are we creating a job office atmosphere where we are using the people and resources around us every working day to better ourselves & each other? How can we promote a learning environment in our field office? I'll give you a couple of stories & some ideas to get you thinking.
Book Recommendation: Resilience (Eric Greitens)
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Hey Crew - It's so good to check back in with you here on Episode 026.
With so many task management systems now in existence, there's an opportunity to turn your To Do list into a job unto itself. Managing your tasks should be a simple exercise: Prioritize and execute, that's the goal.
But it's now easy to become lost in app's, bogged down in trying to get this app to talk to Outlook, which then needs an add-in to talk back to your task management, which then needs to be updated so it can coordinate with your calendar. In my world, all of that linking of applications does nothing but cause friction.
In this episode, I discuss my task management system - Tried & true pencil & paper. I've spoken about my Franklin Planner and what a anchor it is in what I do day-to-day to keep myself organized. I challenge the listener to take a step back off the line this week and assess how your task management systems are working for you.
Some notable links from the episode:
Tiago Forte - Building a Second Brain
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Hey Crew - It's great to be back with you for Episode 025.
I'm a big fan of the fire service: Fire service podcasts, fire service leadership. I've come to really value listening leaders in the fire service. I think there is a lot of carry-over between the fire service and the construction industry: Our jobs place us in, sometimes, risky situations that we are called to mitigate. There are leadership issues in both of our industries that call for us to be sound in our inter-personal skills, navigating situations & issues. I love listening to great chiefs & leaders, in any industry, but those who are in the fire service always strike lots of chords with me.
One of my favorite podcasts is produced by Battalion Chief Corley Moore of the Moore, Oklahoma FD. He runs a website called Firehouse Vigilance, and produces a podcast & YouTube channel called The Weekly Scrap, which is an interview-based Q/A forum where he'll bring-on another fire service leader. There's a live chat for the Q/A, and they always seem to dive into topics that provide me with tons of takeaways.
In a recent episode, Chief Moore had Battalion Chief Curt Isakson of the Escambia, Florida FD on. Chief Isakson is an absolute fire-breather: You can't listen to him and not want to run through a brick wall. High energy, a library of knowledge and the kind of guy who you'd like to meet at a backyard cookout and hangout with.
Chief Isakson introduced me to the question, "What is my % of impact?" Obviously, his take revolved around fire service members and how they could have a positive contribute to a situation. But for me, I grabbed that same question and took it into our industry: How can I positively effect a construction or engineering situation. I think you'll enjoy this podcast.
A few linkables mentioned in the Show:
Firehouse Vigilance (Chief Corley Moore)
County Fire Tactics (Chief Curt Isakson)
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Hey Crew - It's great to be back with you.
For the past few weeks, I've spent a lot of free-time thinking about goals. I've been a goal setter since I got my first Franklin Planner in 1989. Back then, I learned the basics of goal setting that we all know & love: Determining values & what matters most, developing ways of creating task lists that would be the incremental steps that lead to accomplishing the goals. I don't consider myself to be a "Type A" personality who's always trying to get to the next ladder rung, I'm just a guy who's trying to better himself everyday. Safe to say, we all are striving towards things that we believe to be important to us, so loosely defined, whether we write them down or not, we all have goals.
In this episode, I take a quick drive down my own Goal Setting Memory Lane and talk a bit on how I have historically looked at the process of goal setting. And then, I'll take you down a bit of a back-road and introduce you to a concept that has changed the way I think about goals. For me, this has been a game-changer: I won't be setting my goals the same way I used to. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on whether my new way of thinking might be something you'll implement.
A few linkables mentioned in the Show:
Andy Frisella and his 75 Hard Challenge
Connect with me anytime!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Episode 023 - I'm excited to be back after a bit of a hiatus! I've spent the last couple of months immersed in teaching a course in Construction Surveying, but the spring term has been secured, the final grades have been posted, and I now have time to get back to the podcast.
This episode comes to us by way of a question from the Interwebs. Although I could list dozens of attributes, I discuss six characteristics, traits & skills that I think ALL OF US (not just the younger members of our industry....) can focus on to improve our on-site duties:
And there's a Bonus #7 that puts all 6 of the items to work.
I mention Jocko Willink's book: The Code. The Evaluation. The Protocols: Striving to Become an Eminently Qualified Human
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Episode 22 - It's nice to be back with you all!! The couple-of-month hiatus is past, just too much else going on...
A couple of weeks ago, those of us at our company received our annual "Self-Evaluation Form." That means it's time to reassess. I've always enjoyed stepping away from the total station and the laptop and getting the 10,000 foot view of where my life & career are heading. I've done it since I got my first Franklin Planner in 1989. Self-assessment and goal setting have always been part of my life road mapping.
But this year's analysis will be a bit different. New situations, both around the shop as well as outside work. I'm still heading to the right destinations, I'm just choosing to look for off-ramps and dirt roads, as opposed to staying on the 4-lane paved highway).
In this episode, I play catch-up on the "Hey Bob, where have you been?", and then dive into how I'm setting my course of action for the year, using Jiu Jitsu as a means of establishing what the "long game" is all about.
I mention Trimble's Constructable and their article titled 14 Best Construction Podcasts to Listen to in 2022 Thanks again, Rachel, for the mention!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Episode 20 - How well are you preparing for the work day? Are you putting in the "mental reps" prior to heading out to the site to meet with your crews? Are you prepared to inspect the work, answer questions and troubleshoot problems?
Or are you rolling out to the site and simply reacting to what is going on, rather than engaging in the work.
On this episode of the Construction Engineering Show, we discuss 4 ideas of ways that you can better-prepare yourself for your day on site. And even the the 4th idea is a little nuanced, implementing it will change the way you think about anticipating problems:
1. Do the mental preparation
2. Have the resources you need on-hand
3. Look for and review checklists
4. The "5 Biggest Challenges & 5 Biggest Opportunities" Card
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
The construction industry is about as dynamic of an industry as there is. Think about it: Every project is different. Multitudes of issues, problems, paperwork, people & personalities, weather conditions, you name it. Nothing is ever the same. And as construction professionals, it's our job to navigate this ever-changing landscape that we call "A Project."
To be an effective construction professional, you need to be able to adjust. Adjust to the specifics of the project. Adjust to the issues of the day. Adjust how you execute your day-to-day duties. We are all constantly needing to adjust.
In this episode of the Construction Engineering Show, I talk about 3 adjustments that I've made to my work flow this construction season. I've taken-on a construction management role that has required me to navigate & deal with project issues from a slightly different angel than I've had to in the past. The adjustments I've made have all been extremely effective for me, and I want to share them with you.
1. Managing Email
2. My "Daily Debrief Sheet"
In the episode, several times I give credit to Cal Newport's book "A World Without Email," a book that I highly recommend you check out: It will change the way you look at email and give you plenty of ideas on how you can better-manage it. It's a game-changer!
If you decide to implement any of these adjustments in your daily activities, let me know how it works for you, I'd be really interested to hear your feedback - Cheers!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
We've all know that there are times to lead, and times to follow. But in the same breath, there are times to take full responsibility, but there are times when, although you might want to, you can't.
In this episode of The Construction Engineering Show, I take a step into accepting responsibility. Being a leader requires taking ownership of everything that happens on your watch. Leading yourself, your crew, assisting the client, the agency you are working for, it's all part of being a professional field engineer.
We all want to be good leaders. We all are willing to take responsibility for the going's-on on our jobsites. But we have to acknowledge that there are, in fact, times when we simply do not have direct control over the situation. And in those instances, I argue, it's OK to allow others to be responsible. I discuss 4 "Situations of Responsibility," each with its own level:
1. Full Responsibility
2. Crew Responsibility
3. Managerial Responsibility
4. Project Involvement (and Not Direct Responsibility)
If you're interested in listening to Andy Stumpf and the podcast that I mention, you can check it out here:
Cleared Hot Podcast - Episode 13 - Failure
You may have some different opinions on the subject: I'd love to hear your thoughts. Get in touch with me at any of the links below.
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
We are in a world where we are constantly being told that we need to advance our careers. We see and hear from lots of sources that may or may not be credible when it comes to the construction and engineering industries, giving us "tips and tricks" that will lead us to a corner office.
While the over-arching goal of striving towards a goal is extremely important, the rate at which our growth actually occurs doesn't always match-up.
In this episode of the Construction Engineering Show, I do some "debunking" of the myth that advancing in your career is simple if you "...just do X, Y & Z." Advancement and job security in our industry isn't based on time served or credit hours, it comes from hard work, dedication to your craft, and your ability to be a value to your team, your company and the industry.
My opinions on this topic are pretty staunch: I'd be interested to hear what you think. Connect with me and let me know - Cheers!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
Critical thinking is one of those skills that, for myself, I probably take for granted. My mind works very practically. I like to work with my hands. I don't like asking for help. I like to fix things myself. I can look at a situation and pretty-much develop a course of action and a method of execution to get it resolved.
I like to solve problems myself.
But more and more, I'm seeing a trend. A disturbing trend. Internet search bars and chat forums are becoming venues for getting answers. For solving problems. Put in part of your question, Google autofills the rest the rest and an algorithm points you to an answer.
"An" answer. Not necessarily "the" answer…
On this episode of the Construction Engineering Show, I rant a bit on critical thinking and how important it is for engineers and construction professionals to use the one tool that has been trained to solve problems - The tool between our ears.
If you're interested in reading more of my thoughts, I wrote an article titled Googling Isn't Engineering that dives into this topic in some detail.
Connect with me and let me know what you think - Cheers!!
LinkedIn: Bob Hildebranski, PE
Website: Hildebranski.com
