Private or Secretive? The Hidden Cost in Construction Companies
In construction, the line between being private and being secretive is subtle, and this difference can impact the company's success or ongoing issues.
A secretive company tightly holds information by top management, assuming only they need to know; it operates from fear or control, limiting information within its walls.
Delays, cost variations, safety concerns, and quality issues all surface on-site first. Because of a top-down culture of secrecy, these insights fail to reach leadership, and the company loses its ability to learn, adapt, improve, and grow.
Privacy, on the other hand, isn't about hiding everything; it's about sharing what matters. It's about sharing what empowers people to do their jobs better. When foremen, engineers, and project managers understand the "why" behind decisions and the company's direction, they make smarter choices on the ground.
When performance data, site realities, and strategic direction are openly shared, teams feel more engaged and part of the whole organization. By sharing this higher level of information from the top down, trust starts to build, and the information flows from the bottom up easily.
The Fine Line
Privacy is a boundary of trust, respect, and motivation.
Privacy builds trust and clarity.
Secrecy is a barrier of fear, uncertainty, and threat.
Secrecy produces confusion and cost.
Self-Assessment
At any time you are withholding useful, important, and valuable information:
- Notice the fine line - Ask yourself: on which side of the line do I stand? Am I trying to be secret or private?
- Acknowledge that you are trying to be secretive
- Accept that you are leading by fear and uncertainty
- Ask how I can shift by promoting privacy over secrecy
Questions for Construction Leaders:
- What critical site insights are not reaching your desk?
- Are your project teams aware of the company's financial realities and risk zones?
- Do engineers and foremen feel safe sharing bad news?
- What would improve if transparency replaced control in your operations?
About the Author
Nadim Bitar
Mindset, Leadership Coach, and Consultant.
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