The hidden alignment crisis in construction.
By: Matt Poepsel, PhD
August 7, 2025
In “Why Even Your Best People Struggle: The Hidden Alignment Crisis in Construction,” leadership advisor and professor Dr. Matt Poepsel reveals a surprising truth: the problem isn’t always skill or effort, it’s alignment. Drawing from a personal boot camp story and years of leadership research, Poepsel explains how even top performers can falter when their natural behavioral strengths clash with the priorities they’re tasked to execute.
In this article, Poepsel explores:
- Why highly capable people struggle when priorities are misaligned with their natural strengths.
How behavioral mismatches are quietly inflating budgets and delaying projects. - The four behavioral orientations in construction leadership (Innovation & Agility, Results & Discipline, Teamwork & Employee Experience, Process & Precision).
- Warning signs leaders should watch for when style and strategy are out of sync.
- The ripple effects of misalignment on retention, client relationships, and reputation.
- Real-world examples of companies and leaders thriving by working in behavioral alignment.
- Practical steps to diagnose and fix alignment issues using the Team Discovery framework.
The key takeaway? Talent alone isn’t enough. Success depends on ensuring the right people are matched to the right strategic priorities, and in construction, that alignment can mean the difference between delivering a project on time or watching profits vanish.
That’s where Propel People comes in.
The construction industry already battles thin margins, labor shortages, and fast-changing demands. Add misalignment between workers' natural strengths and their responsibilities, and even the best hires can underperform. Propel People helps construction leaders eliminate that risk from day one.
Our intelligent hiring platform doesn’t just fill roles, it ensures you’re building a team with the behavioral strengths to match your business priorities. Whether you need innovation-driven leaders to spearhead a new digital initiative or precision-focused managers to keep costs under control, Propel People helps you identify and hire the right fit faster.
With tools like ProScore, our proprietary resume-ranking engine, mobile-first applications, SMS-based workflows, and smart pre-screening filters, we help you quickly connect with tradespeople and professionals who will excel in the work you need done. That means fewer costly mismatches, stronger project execution, and an engaged, productive, and aligned workforce.
Read Why Even Your Best People Struggle: The Hidden Alignment Crisis in Construction to understand why behavioral alignment is just as important as technical skills, and see how Propel People can help you hire, develop, and retain the right people for the right priorities.