How Construction Leaders Can Build Trust, Improve Communication, and Drive Project Success — Insights from Irene Walsh Garcia
In construction, technical expertise gets projects off the ground — but it’s leadership, communication, and trust that determine whether they succeed. In this episode of Construction Trailblazers, we sat down with Irene Walsh Garcia, founder of Successful Women in Construction, to unpack the leadership lessons she’s learned from over 25 years in the industry.
From her early days as an electrician to stepping into senior project manager roles — often without formal training — Irene’s career has been a masterclass in learning on the job, advocating for herself, and bridging the ever-present gap between the office and the field.
Tune in to this episode of Construction Trailblazer to dive deeper into these insights.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into Irene’s insights on how leaders can build trust, improve communication, and create high-performing teams — lessons that are invaluable for both seasoned pros and those stepping into leadership roles for the first time.
Key Takeaways:
Unlearning Limiting Beliefs – Self-doubt often stems from deeply ingrained thought patterns, but with awareness and practice, it’s possible to replace them with confidence and self-trust.
Lessons from Early Career Challenges – The most valuable professional growth often comes from stepping into uncertainty, making mistakes, and learning from experience.
The Value of Mentorship and Community – Surrounding yourself with a strong network of mentors and peers can provide guidance, encouragement, and new opportunities for growth.
Trusting the Process – Every challenge faced early on contributes to long-term success. With time and persistence, confidence builds naturally.
Success in construction isn’t just about skill—it’s about mindset, resilience, and continuous learning.
Why Communication is the Foundation of Every Successful Construction Project
Irene’s career highlights how communication — especially between office and field teams — can make or break a project. Too often, project managers and superintendents operate in silos, each blaming the other for missing information or delays.
The key, according to Irene, is curiosity and respect. Office-based managers need to spend time in the field to understand the realities on-site. Field teams need to feel heard and supported by management. Asking questions, actively listening, and treating field teams as trusted partners fosters smoother collaboration and fewer mistakes.
Whether you’re running a small project or a multi-million-dollar build, clear, two-way communication is the glue that holds it all together.
Pro Tip: If you’re talking more than 30% of the time in any meeting, you’re probably missing valuable insights from your team.
Self-Advocacy and Negotiating Your Value in Construction
One of the most powerful stories Irene shared was how she negotiated regular raises by clearly stating her value and expectations — not as a request, but as a condition for continued success.
Construction leaders (especially women) often struggle with asking for what they’re worth. Irene encourages professionals to shift their mindset from “asking for a raise” to setting clear terms for the value they provide.
This level of self-advocacy not only ensures fair pay but also builds confidence and sets the tone for how others view your contributions. The lesson for both leaders and employees? Know your worth, communicate it clearly, and be prepared to walk away if necessary.
Building Stronger Relationships Between Office and Field Teams
Field-office friction is a universal challenge in construction. Irene’s unique perspective, having worked in both environments, gives her the ability to translate between the two worlds — and her advice is simple:
Office teams need to respect the expertise of the field.
Field teams need to understand the pressures and processes driving office decisions.
The best leaders bridge the gap by fostering mutual respect and clear communication. They make sure the field team feels heard, supported, and involved in key decisions — not dictated to from a distance.
Quick Tip: If you don’t know something, ask — pretending to have all the answers only leads to bigger problems down the road.
Why Emotional Intelligence and Humility Matter More Than Authority
Leadership isn’t about knowing everything — it’s about being resourceful, humble, and collaborative. Irene’s early leadership challenges taught her that yelling, micromanaging, or trying to dominate conversations only backfires.
Instead, the best leaders focus on:
De-escalating conflict rather than escalating it.
Listening first and problem-solving together.
Balancing confidence with vulnerability — admitting when they need help.
This emotionally intelligent approach doesn’t just improve team morale — it keeps projects on track by fostering trust, creative problem-solving, and proactive risk management.
Diversity in Construction: Why It’s Not Just About Representation
As the founder of Successful Women in Construction, Irene is passionate about increasing diversity across the industry — not just for the sake of representation, but because diverse teams create better results.
When leadership teams all have similar backgrounds and experiences, they tend to recycle the same ideas and approaches — even when the industry has changed. Diverse teams bring fresh perspectives, challenge outdated processes, and spark innovative solutions that directly impact project profitability.
Companies that invest in real diversity — not just performative DEI initiatives — gain a serious competitive edge in today’s construction landscape.
Want to Build a High-Performing, Trust-Based Construction Team?
The soft skills Irene champions — communication, trust, emotional intelligence, and self-advocacy — aren’t “nice-to-haves.” They’re the backbone of profitable, high-performing construction teams.
If you want to:
✅ Improve communication between office and field teams
✅ Build a culture of accountability and ownership
✅ Foster trust and mutual respect across every project phase
✅ Retain top talent by recognizing and rewarding their true value
…it’s time to embrace a leadership style that puts people first.
Tune in to this episode of Construction Trailblazer to dive deeper into these insights. https://constructiontrailblazers.com/episodes/33-thrown-into-the-deep-end-how-irene-walsh-garcia-built-a-thriving-career-in-construction