Gas on the Fire: Advocating for Respect and Connection in Construction with Mia McGlynn

Jesse hosts the Learnings and Missteps podcast and introduces guest Mia McGlynn, a Pennsylvania-based construction influencer, writer, photographer, and fractional support partner who focuses on “the people behind the work.” Jesse gives an LnM Family shout-out to Bryce Ager for reviewing one of Jesse’s construction trainings, and notes his business offers training, coaching, and consulting. Maya explains her passion for blue-collar stories comes from building relationships and bridging gaps between management and shop/field workers, emphasizing retention and the need for leaders to “give a shit,” not just attract more people into the industry. They discuss treating people well as foundational to solving construction’s workforce challenges, rising interest in more human-centered workplaces, and how companies that only rely on pay raises and ignore relationships will be left behind. Jesse shares his view that people should leave poor leaders to find better environments and describes how supportive leadership connect wit MiaCheck out Crew Collaborative00:00 Attraction vs. Retention: If Leaders Treat People Like Crap, Nothing Changes00:21 Meet Maya McGlynn: Showing Up for the People Behind the Work02:08 LnM Family Shoutout + What Jesse Actually Does (Training/Coaching/Consulting)04:45 What Fires Maya Up: The People, the Shop Floor, and Bridging the Office–Field Gap07:32 “Put Some Gas on the Fire”: Caring, Connection, and Why Liaison Roles Matter14:25 The Human-Centered Shift: Mental Health, Culture Change, and Companies That Will Be Left Behind19:56 Quit for a Better Leader: Unlocking Talent by Changing Environments22:47 Zumba to Construction: Maya’s Fitness Journey and Accidental Entrepreneurship28:07 Entrepreneurship as Survival: Divorce, Single-Mom Resourcefulness, and Building Independence33:26 Seeing the People Behind the Work: Validation, Imposter Syndrome, and the Power of Humility37:58 Learning to Accept Compliments: “I Receive That” + Permission to Celebrate40:21 From Admin to Marketing: Finding the Holes and Creating Value at Work43:31 Photography to Published Author: Turning Jobsite Photos into a Children’s Book46:47 Advice for the Windowless-Office Grind: Skill Up, Build Proof, Move On48:46 Building Workforce Pipelines: Fixing Leadership Gaps & Creating an Internship Program51:39 Crew Collaborative Explained: Mission, Ambassadors, and How to Get Involved54:26 Why the Podcast Exists: COVID, Trades Advocacy, and Doing Something About It58:17 Money vs Meaning: Choosing Purpose, Setting Boundaries, and Mission-Driven Work01:08:35 The Closing Question: “What Is the Promise You’re Intended to Be?”01:14:16 Final Takeaways + Free PDF Gift and Send-OffLets leave the Construction Industry Better than We Found It https://www.depthbuilder.com/construction-leadership-lab Download the free PDF copy of Becoming the Promise You are Intended to Be