At McGough, building an inclusive site culture means creating an environment where every person feels respected, heard, and able to contribute their best work.
That culture takes shape through every day choices made across job sites. Inclusion can look like how teams communicate and welcome new employees, how teams recognize a job well done or provide feedback, or how teams check in on each other and build trust.
This year as we dive into Construction Inclusion Week, we spoke with Superintendent Josh Krech about the practical habits that strengthen trust, support safety and performance, and reinforce that everyone on the jobsite is a valued member of the team.
Hi Josh. Thanks for joining us. As a leader in the field, you have an important perspective on how jobsite culture takes shape each day. We would love to hear what building an inclusive site culture means at McGough and how every team members contributes to this effort.
What does a respectful jobsite feel like?
A respectful jobsite is when other trades engage in daily conversations no matter the position on site. A simple “How are you?” goes a long way with most people. Having open and honest conversations between leaders to make sure everyone accomplishes their goals.
How can leadership highlight quiet or behind-the-scenes contributors?
Emails or phone calls to the leaders on site to praise good efforts. This can be submitted through our SHIELD program as we encourage recognizing team members.
What does shared accountability look like in your team culture?
Everyone plays a role in a safe and inclusive jobsite every day. We make sure to have each other’s back if something were to go wrong and the team is able to know that we go through it together. It is important to be able to come up with a solution to address the issue as a team.
How can onboarding be used to introduce inclusive culture norms?
When someone joins the team, I always ask if they prefer public acknowledgement of a job well done or appreciate more direct feedback. I don’t believe this can happen by reading through training, this needs to be seen on site. Seeing it in person allows you to see the respect and confidence we have in our team. Good leaders can show this by following everything I mentioned: Praise, simple conversation, and knowing someone has your back when times get tough.
An inclusive jobsite culture is not the responsibility of one person – it is something every team member helps build every single day. By setting clear expectations, recognizing contributions and making space for people to share their perspectives, teams can develop the trust and shared accountability needed to succeed.
At McGough, these everyday practices help us create jobsites where people feel supported, work safely and take pride in what they accomplish together.
