The Chiles Bros: One Lean Geek. One Old Dawg. (Episode 92)
About this episode
Adam Hoots interviews the Chiles brothers about Lean thinking and leadership in construction.
In this absolutely, positively NO Bullshido kickoff episode, Adam Hoots sits down with Brian Chiles and Mike Chiles—two brothers with deep roots in relationships, leadership, and Lean thinking lived out in the real world. Brian came into construction from a teaching/coaching and project management background; Mike brings 20+ years in the industry, raising four kids while remaining relentless about respect for people and building teams that work together. This conversation is equal parts family, field, and flow. The Chiles Bros unpack why Lean is not a tool, why relationships are the real work, and how the best leaders "feed the hungry" instead of wasting energy trying to convince people who don't want it. They talk about being curious, not judgmental, the difference between explaining tools vs. teaching them, and why the 87/13 (character over competency) shows up, whether you like it or not. If you're trying to build trust, reduce conflict, and lead people—not just tasks—this one is a straight shot of Old Dawg wisdom with a Lean Geek edge. KEY TAKEAWAYS: • Feed the Hungry: Stop spending 80% of your time trying to win over the 20% who don't care. Find the receptive people and…
More episodes of Hoots on the Ground | The Lean Builder
- Better, Faster, Together: Building Global Lean Community with Derek Sinnott (Episode 95)
- Lean at the Crossroads: Culture, Community, and Congress with Elizabeth Taylor (Episode 94)
- 1 in 4 Builders are Neurodivergent. Lean Might Be Built for Them! – Hosted by the Chiles Bros (Episode 93)
- Family, Flow, and Old Dawgs with Jeff Reilly (Episode 91)
- The Old Dawgs Live at LCI Congress (Episode 90)
- Farm Boy Flow with a Bit of Grit with Boone White (Episode 89)
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