How to Build a Championship-Level Construction Team – Insights from Paul Sanneman

Construction Champions Podcast

Feb 272 min read

Hiring in construction is broken—and it's costing contractors millions in lost time, money, and stress. In this episode of the Construction Champions Podcast, Paul Sanneman, founder of Contractor Staffing Source, shares his proven blueprint for hiring, retaining, and leading high-performing teams in construction.

1. The Mindset Shift: Winners Attract Winners

The foundation of a great construction team starts with mindset.

Winners attract winners—your leadership sets the tone for your entire team.
Losers attract excuses—if you allow negativity, inefficiency, and lack of accountability, your team will reflect it.
Great teams don’t happen by accident—they are built with intentionality and strong leadership.

Takeaway: If you want a high-performing construction team, you must set high standards and lead by example.

2. Stop Hiring Out of Desperation

Many contractors hire too fast because they are desperate for help. This leads to:

Bad hires that drag the entire team down.
High turnover rates that waste time and resources.
Low morale among high-performing employees who are forced to work with poor hires.

The Solution:

Develop a long-term hiring strategy rather than hiring only when you’re desperate.
Be selective—it’s better to be short-staffed for a short time than to hire the wrong person.
Focus on character, work ethic, and cultural fit, not just skills.

3. Great Teams Attract Great Clients

The quality of your construction team directly impacts the types of projects and clients you attract.

High-performing teams deliver exceptional work that attracts premium clients.
Poor hiring leads to mistakes, rework, and unhappy clients.
If you want to land high-paying projects, you need a team that can deliver at that level.

Takeaway: Invest in building a strong team, and high-quality clients will follow.

4. Recruiting Isn’t a One-Time Event—It’s a System

Paul Sanneman emphasizes that successful hiring is not a one-time fix but an ongoing process.

His Proven Hiring System:

Always be recruiting—don’t wait until you have a vacancy.
Use a structured hiring process—job postings, interviews, and skills assessments should be standardized.
Leverage referrals and networks—great employees often know other great candidates.
Offer competitive pay and benefits—to attract and retain top talent.
Onboard and train properly—set new hires up for success from day one.

Takeaway: If you want to build a winning team, hiring must be a continuous, strategic process.

Final Thoughts

A championship-level construction team doesn’t happen by accident. By adopting the right mindset, avoiding desperate hiring, and implementing a consistent recruiting system, contractors can build a team that delivers top-quality work and attracts the best clients.

Want to finally build a team that wins? Learn Paul’s hiring secrets in this episode!

Watch the full episode here: