subscribe to ENR magazine subscribe
contact us
advertise
careers industry jobs
events events
FAQ
ENR Logo
SUBSCRIBE TODAY
& receive immediate web access
comment

G. Brent Darnell: Transforming Alpha Males

Text size: A A
Photo Courtesy of Brent Darnell
PowerPoints are gone in Darnells approach to mastering emotional intelligence.
----- Advertising -----

Describing one participant in his pioneering construction leadership program, Brent Darnell says, "He was a very tough guy, a driver of results and a valuable employee, but he was leaving dead bodies in his wake." But, Darnell says, the manager "transformed himself and created some great relationships internally and externally that now drive future business."

DARNELL
While long a construction staple, fearless alpha males may become an endangered species in a more competitive, team-focused and client-centric industry. "We are no longer in the project delivery business. We are a service industry, " Darnell says.

The Georgia Tech-trained engineer and former contractor manager connects his "emotional intelligence" training approach to business success through client consulting, new editions of his popular primers such as The People-Profit Connection and the For Tough Guys series, as well as university teaching and multimedia tools that aim to turn the industry's alphas into real producers. Soon to come is a "total leadership" program that will be open to employees of companies that are not clients.

"It's become part of our company culture to become more aware of yourself and others and a springboard to push operations people into business development," says Lisa Fanto, senior vice president of Hardin Construction, a Darnell client for several years. "Brent believes in this and that brings credibility—and I'm a veteran of many training programs."

Others among Darnell's more than 75 past and present firm and industry association clients, such as AGC's Georgia branch, agree. "Brent doesn't sugarcoat," says R. Randall Hall, a program veteran who was elevated in January to president of contractor Batson-Cook Co.

Douglas C. Welling, CEO of Jacobsen Construction Co., reports that the firm's "alpha males are making great improvement, and clients and employees are responding enthusiastically."

Keywords:

----- Advertising -----

View all
  Blogs: ENR Staff   Blogs: Other Voices  
Critical Path: ENR's editors and bloggers deliver their insights, opinions, cool-headed analysis and hot-headed rantings
Project Leads/Pulse

Gives readers a glimpse of who is planning and constructing some of the largest projects throughout the U.S. Much information for pulse is derived from McGraw-Hill Construction Dodge.

For more information on a project in Pulse that has a DR#, or for general information on Dodge products and services, please visit our Website at www.dodge.construction.com.

Information is provided on construction projects in following stages in each issue of ENR: Planning, Contracts/Bids/Proposals and Bid/Proposal Dates.

View all Project Leads/Pulse »

 Reader Comments:
We welcome comments from all points of view. Off-topic or abusive comments, however, will be removed at the editors’ discretion.