Practice Safe Work, Always

Safety isn’t just a checklist — it’s a mindset. From budgeting and planning to field execution and observation, build safety into everything you do. Speak up and stop work if something looks off. Watch out for your team and expect them to do the same for you. We plan and perform our work with care — not just to meet goals, but to make sure everyone goes home the same way they showed up: safe, healthy, and ready for tomorrow.

Do the Right Thing, Always

Act with integrity — even when no one’s watching. Be honest, own your actions, and speak the truth every time. If you make a mistake, take responsibility, apologize if needed, and fix it. Doing the right thing isn't always the easiest path, but it's always the one that earns trust. In the field, in the office, and with every partner we work with — character counts.

Celebrate Success – Ours & Others

Catch people doing things right. Acknowledge the operator who wears their seatbelt without being told. Appreciate the teammate who builds a clear, thoughtful plan. Recognize the sub who showed up early or the inspector who helped solve a problem. Meaningful appreciation — in every direction — strengthens our culture and motivates great work. Don’t wait for big wins to say something. Celebrate the small things, too. Recognition builds momentum.

Listen Generously

Listen to understand — not just to reply. Give people your full attention and the space to think out loud. Often, simply being heard helps others work through their own challenges and arrive at better solutions. Resist the urge to interrupt or jump in. When needed, repeat back what you heard to confirm understanding and show that you’re truly listening. Listening generously builds trust, strengthens relationships, and creates room for better ideas to surface.

Speak Straight

Say what you mean — clearly, respectfully, and with purpose. Speak honestly in a way that moves the work forward. Make direct requests. Ask the hard questions. Raise concerns, share ideas, and address issues — even when it’s uncomfortable — if it helps the team succeed. Don’t talk around problems or hope they’ll go away. Speak directly with the people involved so things can be solved, not stalled.

Take Pride in the Quality of Your Work

Make quality personal. Take pride in everything you build, write, install, plan, or deliver. Whether it’s a weld, a report, or a drawing mark-up — ask yourself, “Is this my best work?” Everything you touch carries your name. Treat it like a signature — and sign it in bold ink. Pride in quality isn’t about perfection. It’s about care, ownership, and delivering work you’re proud to stand behind.

Check Your Ego at the Door

We’re here to get the job done — together. Put the mission and the team above personal pride or recognition. Don’t let ego, status, or personal agendas get in the way of doing what’s best for the team, the project, or the company. Taking things personally or worrying about who gets credit slows down progress and erodes trust. Whether you’re working with a teammate, subcontractor, engineer, inspector, or client, keep your focus on solutions, shared goals, and delivering results.

Practice the Human Touch

We’re not just coworkers — we’re people first. Life is short, and we spend much of it working, so let’s make it count. Treat others with kindness, respect, and empathy. Be there for your teammates — through challenges, setbacks, wins, and milestones. Support one another in the hard moments and take time to celebrate the good ones. Bring a sense of humor, have some fun, and make this a place people feel proud to be part of.

Practice Servant Leadership – People First, Titles Second

Leadership isn’t about position — it’s about service. No matter your title, put people first. Support your team. Remove obstacles. Give credit, share information, and be present when others need help. Lead by example — whether you’re a foreman, project manager, engineer, or apprentice. The best leaders listen, pitch in, and elevate the people around them. At ZeusCon, we succeed by looking out for each other — not by pulling rank.

Make Your Bed

Own your responsibilities — start to finish. Clean up after yourself, follow through, and don’t expect others to pick up where you left off. Build habits and routines that lead to success. Be disciplined with your time, tools, tasks, and workspaces. “Make your bed” means taking personal pride in the details — even the small ones — and showing up ready, organized, and accountable every day.

Find a Way – Not an Excuse

Own the outcome. No matter the challenge, take personal responsibility for finding a way forward — somehow, some way. Focus on what can be done, not why it can’t. Show initiative, stay resourceful, and keep momentum going. Whether it's a field constraint, a supply delay, or a coordination issue, step up, look for options, and help move the team toward solutions — not roadblocks.

Always Be Curious

If something doesn’t make sense — ask. Don’t accept unclear instructions, questionable assumptions, or confusing plans at face value. Be curious and speak up. Ask “Why?” and “How?” as many times as it takes to understand the full picture and do the right thing. Healthy questions lead to better decisions, fewer mistakes, and smarter solutions. Curiosity isn’t pushback — it’s how we build quality, solve problems, and protect the team and the project.

Set Clear Expectations

Clear expectations prevent confusion, delays, and rework. Don’t assume people know what you mean — say it, write it, and confirm it. Set clear goals, timelines, and responsibilities at the start of any task, project, or meeting. Whether you're working with teammates, engineers, subcontractors, or inspectors, make sure everyone understands what’s expected — and when. If needed, ask others to repeat back their understanding to confirm alignment. Clarity upfront saves time and builds trust.

Look Ahead & Anticipate – Critical Thinking vs. Transactional Thinking

Don’t just complete tasks — think ahead. Great work isn’t just about doing what’s in front of you, it’s about anticipating what’s next. Learn from past experiences and debriefs. Before starting a task, ask yourself: What worked or didn’t last time? What could go wrong here — and how can I prevent it? This is the difference between critical thinking and transactional thinking. Preventing problems before they happen is always better than scrambling to fix them later.

Relentless Improvement

Never settle for “that’s how we’ve always done it.” Look for ways to improve how we plan, build, communicate, and deliver — every day, every project. After any milestone — win or loss — take time to debrief with your team. What worked? What didn’t? What could be better? Learn from mistakes so they don’t repeat and learn from wins, so they become habits. Improvement isn’t a one-time effort — it’s a mindset we carry into everything we do.

Everything has a Place

Put tools, materials, and documents back where they belong — every time. A clean, organized workspace helps us work faster, safer, and smarter. It shows we take pride in our work and respect the people who share our job sites and offices. Staying organized isn’t just about efficiency — it’s also how we show professionalism to our clients, vendors, inspectors, and each other.

One Touch

When something crosses your path — take care of it completely. Whether it’s an email, a task, or installing a valve in the field, don’t leave things half-done or plan to circle back later. If you touch a bolt, tighten it all the way. If you start an action, finish it with care so it doesn’t need to be revisited. In the office or in the field, this mindset builds momentum, prevents rework, and earns trust. One touch. Done right.

Create Win/Win Solutions

When working with teammates, clients, vendors, or inspectors — aim for outcomes that work for everyone. Construction is full of negotiations, big and small. The goal isn’t to “win” at someone else’s expense, but to find solutions that meet both sides’ needs. Be flexible, stay open-minded, and don’t be afraid to say, “Let’s find a win/win.” That mindset builds trust, strengthens partnerships, and helps us deliver better results together.

Encourage Individual Growth

Support people in becoming their best — not just getting the job done. Take time to coach, share what you’ve learned, and create opportunities for others to grow. Whether it’s helping someone learn a new skill, take on more responsibility, or avoid a mistake you’ve already made, growth happens when we invest in each other. Ask questions, challenge teammates to improve, and celebrate progress. When each person gets better, the whole team levels up.

Be Approachable

Every call, text, meeting, and site conversation sets a tone — make yours respectful, calm, and open. Be someone others feel comfortable talking to, asking questions, or bringing issues to. Show warmth, offer help, and stay available when people need you. If something feels off between you and someone else, address it directly. Don’t let tension linger — speak honestly, listen generously, and protect the trust in your relationships. Approachability builds stronger teams and better outcomes.

No Pairing

“Pairing” is when two people talk about a third — whether it’s an employee, customer, or vendor — without that person being present. It might feel harmless, or even helpful, but it erodes trust and undermines relationships. Instead, speak to people, not about them. If you hear someone pairing, encourage them to bring their message directly to the person involved — whether it’s praise, frustration, or feedback. This takes emotional maturity, but it builds a culture of respect, honesty, and accountability.