Rockefeller and Dealing With People

“Hard Skills” including the technical ability to design and build a project are the foundation of the construction industry.

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The “Soft Skills” such as the ability to deal with people is the glue that holds complex projects and contracting businesses together.  

Quote: The ability to deal with people is as purchasable a commodity as sugar or coffee and I will pay more for that ability than for any other under the sun. John D Rockefeller

These are the skills that connect teams from different companies together effectively for the more collaborative project delivery we are seeing across all sectors of the construction market.  

These are the skills that both hold teams together and attract new people to that team.  This is exceptionally critical considering the shortages of talent in the industry that will continue to get worse.  

Combining soft and hard skills together is what makes effective teachers, coaches and mentors that develop others.  

These “Soft Skills” are purchasable as Rockefeller describes but they can also be developed.  In the current and future construction environment the contractors that master the development of talent will dominate.  


Schedule a call with us to learn more about how we help contractors accelerate talent development




Definition - Skill
The Ability to do something. Sometimes combined with performing to a certain level (standard / competency) and possibly the verification of that performance (certification).
Doing Something is Worth a Lot
All things must be thought about before they can be built. For more complex ideas they must be talked about with a team to align everyone. Those are both critical prerequisites however without the act of actually doing something they are 100% waste.
Net Profits - Four Major Levers
Increasing net profits for contractors comes down to four major levers that can be pulled.