The NEXT Leadership Academy

This week in powered by Milwaukee Tool we start our June focus on Emotional Intelligence. In Class 11 "Building Emotional Agility for Effective Leadership" we’re starting with the leader behind all of those tools. Because here’s what we’ve learned: the tool is only as effective as the person holding it. In construction, especially on MEP-heavy projects, pressure is part of the job. RFIs don’t come back fast enough. Drawings don’t match field conditions. Manpower shifts. Inspections tighten. The GC wants answers. The field wants direction. The owner wants certainty. And right in the middle of all of that is you—the project manager.

That’s why emotional agility matters. It’s the ability to recognize what’s happening inside you before it starts controlling what happens around you.

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷 The science of emotional intelligence (EQ).
👷 Self-awareness and self-regulation in leadership.
👷 Adaptive thinking for complex situations.

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦:
📚 Enhance self-awareness to improve leadership effectiveness.
📚 Practice emotional regulation to stay composed under pressure.
📚 Adapt leadership styles to changing project needs.

To Learn More about NEXTPM powered by Milwaukee Tool or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/pm

Today in we kick off our month on Financial Awareness. In Class 11 "Job Cost Control & Forecasting" we start with a simple truth: a project does not usually lose money all at once. It loses money quietly, one missed signal at a time. A few hours are burned without enough work in place, a cost code is too vague to tell us what is really happening, a small productivity drift goes unnoticed, and by the time the team sees the problem clearly, the job has already moved past the easiest point of correction. That is why job cost control and forecasting matter so much.

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷 WBS and cost codes
👷 Earned vs. burned quantities/hours
👷 Forecast at complete (EAC)

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦:
📚 Set cost codes that drive insight
📚 Calculate earned vs. burned accurately
📚 Forecast EAC and trigger corrective actions

To Learn More about NEXTFTO or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/fto

We have an exciting week ahead for participants as we begin our month on . In Class 21 we are going to define culture, discuss culture models that can be used for measurement and dive into why culture matters in your construction firms efforts to become more and contracting companies. Let's Do This!

MODULE TOPICS:
👷 What is Culture?
👷 Culture Models
👷 Making the Case for Organizational Culture
👷 Elements and Dimensions of Organizational Culture
👷 Organizational Culture and YOU

LEARNER OBJECTIVES:
📚 Evaluate the implications and models of culture on an organization.
📚 Discern the culture’s impact on our organization.
📚 Analyze culture’s impact on specific efforts.

Join Us Today - Wednesday, 6/3/26 at 7:00PM Est. for this exciting learning opportunity at NEXT!

This month in powered by Milwaukee Tool we dive into Emotional Intelligence: The Edge in Modern Leadership with two unique classes built specifically for Project Managers. Students will learn that emotional intelligence enables them to understand and manage their emotions and those of their team members. This skill is crucial for fostering a positive, inclusive work environment, improving morale, and enhancing collaboration. Effective leadership today involves motivating individuals, resolving conflicts, and aligning diverse teams toward a shared vision, driving project success.

𝗔 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵!

To Learn More about NEXTPM or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/pm

⚡️Deadline to Sign Up is June 1st for launching in July 2026!⚡️

In today’s construction environment—where labor is tighter, schedules are more aggressive, projects are more complex, and expectations for safety, quality, and documentation keep rising—field leadership is no longer a “nice-to-have,” it’s the competitive advantage. The truth is, most project outcomes are decided long before the job is “behind”—they’re decided in the daily moments that shape productivity, communication, coordination, and crew culture.

NEXTField equips foremen, general foremen, and superintendents with practical, repeatable systems to set clear standards, build ownership, prevent rework, lead safety with credibility, and keep teams aligned under pressure—so your jobs run smoother, your people grow stronger, and your organization performs at a higher level without burning out the field.

Learn More or Sign Up for July's Start at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/field

This week in powered by Milwaukee Tool we close out our May focus on Cost Management & Budgeting. In Class 10 "Value Engineering in Construction Projects" our goal is to help students reclaim VE as a strategic tool, not a weapon used against you. As a project manager, I want you leaving here confident that you can use value engineering to protect quality, improve constructability, and strengthen your margins—not erode them.

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷 Defining value engineering and its role in cost management
👷 Techniques for identifying cost-saving opportunities without sacrificing quality
👷 Value engineering and its impact on sustainability
👷 Real-world applications of value engineering in construction projects
👷 Implementing VE workshops and involving stakeholders

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦:
📚 Understand the principles of value engineering and how it can be applied to reduce project costs.
📚 Identify and apply VE techniques that maximize project value while maintaining or improving quality.
📚 Learn to facilitate value engineering workshops with key project stakeholders.
📚 Explore successful case studies where value engineering led to significant savings in large construction projects.

To Learn More about NEXTPM powered by Milwaukee Tool or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/pm

Today in we finish up our month on Contracts & Legal Awareness. In Class 10 "Change Orders, Claims & Documentation Discipline" we face the truth about change. The problem is not that change happens. The problem is when change happens and we do not recognize it, document it, price it, or protect the schedule impact tied to it. That is when good work turns into unpaid work, and honest effort turns into frustration. Today’s class is about learning how to handle change with discipline instead of emotion. We are going to talk about how to identify change early, prepare pricing and time impacts that can be defended, and build records that stand up when someone asks, “Prove it.”

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷 Change identification triggers
👷 Pricing and Time Impact Analysis (TIA) basics
👷 Evidence standards and contemporaneous records

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦:
📚 Build a change identification checklist
📚 Prepare defensible pricing and time impacts
📚 Maintain records that stand up to scrutiny

To Learn More about NEXTFTO or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/fto

Sharpen your skills with Class 19's Organizational Learning 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲! This class will allow our students to bring academic theories to life and offer a practical dimension to learning. It will provide a platform for learners to analyze real-world situations, encouraging critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. The in-depth exploration of specific scenarios enhances understanding by providing context, relevance, and a nuanced view of complex issues. This module will bridge the gap between theory and practice, allowing individuals to apply learned concepts to authentic situations in the industry. Class 19 E&A is led by Al Rosende who will facilitate this dynamic, engaging, and applicable approach to learning and problem-solving.

See you on Wednesday for our LIVE WEBINAR at 7:00PM est.

We loved this book by Greg McKeown. If you missed this week's release, be sure to check it out now!

In this episode of The Builder's Bookshelf, we break down Essentialism and translate McKeown’s “disciplined pursuit of less” into the real world of construction, where leaders are constantly pulled by urgent demands, shifting priorities, and the pressure to say yes to everything. You’ll learn how to protect the critical few, stop confusing activity with contribution, and build a week, a project, and a career around what actually matters most.

We know you’re busy, and carving out time to read isn’t always realistic. That’s why we created 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐟 - to dive into the greatest books ever written and distill their wisdom through the lens of .

Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-academy/id1350265214?i=1000767209056

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5SRy7KbS7eDfFx2sZnou5z?si=AfjCseqkTpqJ8wFnMNE41w

Enjoy Episode 19 of 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫'𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐟 and

We had an awesome time last week in powered by Milwaukee Tool as we kicked off our May focus on Cost Management & Budgeting. In Class 9 "Construction Cost Estimation & Control" we recognized that as Project Managers we are deeply connected to sequencing, access, coordination, procurement, labor efficiency, and every other trade on the project. A small estimating miss in our world can ripple across an entire project. You have to begin thinking differently about your role. You are not just someone who watches cost reports after the fact. You are a cost leader. You are someone who understands how cost is built, how it moves, how it drifts, and how to get it back under control before it becomes damage.

𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗨𝗟𝗘 𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗜𝗖𝗦:
👷 Cost estimating techniques (analogous, parametric, and detailed estimation)
👷 Budgeting for construction projects: phases and controls
👷 Managing change orders and their impact on project budgets
👷 Using cost-tracking tools and software
👷 Real-world examples of cost overruns and how they were controlled

𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗥 𝗢𝗕𝗝𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦:
📚 Learn to develop accurate cost estimates at different stages of a project.
📚 Understand how to control project costs by tracking budget performance and managing change orders.
📚 Gain proficiency in cost estimation software to automate and streamline the budgeting process.
📚 Analyze real-world case studies to understand the causes of cost overruns and how they were addressed.

To Learn More about NEXTPM powered by Milwaukee Tool or to Sign Up for upcoming modules, visit our website at www.nextleadershipacademy.org/pm