How the "Five Tours" Program Is Transforming Construction Leadership from the Ground Up
In the fast-paced, high-stakes world of construction, developing strong leaders isn't just about climbing the ladder—it's about understanding every rung. Too often, team members are promoted based solely on tenure or technical expertise without fully grasping the breadth of the business. That's a costly oversight. In this episode of Construction Trailblazers, Samantha C. Prestige sits down with Kerri Smith of Baker Construction to explore how their innovative "Five Tours" program is closing that gap. The episode dives into the importance of cross-functional training, grit, clear expectations, and the difference between striving for excellence vs. perfection. Whether you're leading a family-run crew or managing a major project, this conversation brings actionable insights on construction leadership, team management, and operational efficiency.
Key Takeaways:
Cross-functional training should be structured, not sloppy. The Five Tours model formalizes cross-training to ensure clarity and consistency.
Culture fit matters more than pedigree. Top talent that resists learning fieldwork may not align with long-term success in your company.
Clear expectations beat generic role descriptions. When employees know exactly what they need to learn in a role, they’re more engaged and prepared.
Start small and messy, not perfect. Building great programs doesn’t require rigid systems—it requires belief in your people and a commitment to growth.
Lateral moves are just as valuable as promotions. Real leadership growth often happens sideways, not just up.
Structured Cross-Training with Purpose
Most construction teams have dabbled in cross-training, but without clear goals or structure, it often becomes chaotic and ineffective. Baker Construction's "Five Tours" program introduces a rotational approach where team members intentionally move through four core roles (like fieldwork, safety, estimating, and quality) and one elective. Originally built for new hires, it’s now being expanded to seasoned professionals who want to grow beyond their current lane. This program isn’t about checking a box—it’s about creating well-rounded leaders who truly understand the business.
Culture Fit Over Credentials
Kerri shared candidly that one of the biggest internal hurdles wasn’t the field training itself, but recruiters fearing that graduates from top universities wouldn’t want to "get their boots dirty." The team stood firm: if someone refuses to learn the core of what Baker does—pouring concrete—they’re not the right fit. It was a tough stance, but one that led to a stronger, more values-aligned team. Leadership, after all, starts with humility and shared purpose.
Expectations Create Buy-In
While many companies have formal job descriptions, Baker Construction realized they needed something more actionable. Enter: job expectations. Rather than handing out long documents that go unread, the team created short, practical tools outlining what each team member should learn in their current "tour." This made it easier for supervisors to mentor and for employees to track their growth. As Kerri put it, you can’t build a strong team if no one knows what they’re building toward.
Start Small and Believe in the Process
When launching a new leadership program, many teams wait for a "perfect" system. But the Five Tours program didn’t begin with perfect processes. It began with belief—a belief in people, in learning through doing, and in improving over time. Kerri encourages other leaders to pick just one critical role and design a development path with cross-functional experiences. Then test it, tweak it, and keep going.
Normalize Lateral Growth
In a culture obsessed with promotions, lateral moves can feel like a step back. Baker is actively changing that narrative. Moving sideways in the organization—from operations to talent, for example—is framed as a valuable "tour of duty" that builds well-rounded leaders. This shift promotes flexibility, cross-team empathy, and long-term retention.
Curious about how the Five Tours program could work in your construction business? Don’t miss the full conversation with Kerri Smith on the Construction Trailblazers podcast. This episode is packed with practical wisdom and real-life lessons from the jobsite to the boardroom.