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In this electrifying episode of The Sparky Life, host Lia Lamela dives deep into the dynamic world of the construction industry with an absolute powerhouse: Barb Allen, a trailblazer with over three decades of experience in leadership, from a licensed carpenter to superintendent and business owner. Join us in todays amazing conversation.

0:00 Introduction: Women Reshaping Construction and Persistent Challenges 
1:00 Introducing Barb Allen: Extensive Experience and Perspective 
2:30 Being Labelled "Difficult" as a Female Leader 
4:30 Leadership Techniques: Letting People Come to Their Own Conclusions 
7:30 The Initial Shock of Women in the Trades 
8:30 Shift to Microaggressions and Unconscious Biases 
11:30 Differences in Male and Female Conversational Styles 
12:30 Dealing with "Yesing to Death" and Lack of Follow-Through 
14:30 Leadership Title Without Actual Authority 
17:30 Bosses Undermining Authority and the Importance of Reinforcement 19:30 The Constant Need to Reprove and Reasons for Women Leaving 21:30 Having Conversations with Leaders About Lack of Authority 
25:00 Using the Socratic Method for Leadership Discussions 
27:30 Approaching Leaders with the Assumption of Good Intentions 
28:30 Sponsor Message: Supply House 
29:30 Lack of Understanding from Clients and Design Teams 
31:30 Assumptions About Women's Lack of Field Experience 
34:30 Leadership Skills Versus Trade Skills and the Peter Principle 
37:30 The Necessity of Leadership Training and its Impact on the Bottom Line 
40:30 Reasons for Leaving Jobs: Bad Bosses Versus Pay 
41:30 The Cost of Employee Turnover and the Practice of Pigeonholing 43:00 Differences in Male and Female Leaders Letting People Go 
46:00 Being the One to Speak Up in Meetings and Male Colleagues' Reactions 
48:00 Advice on Speaking Up and Potential Career Repercussions 
52:30 Example of Inappropriate Industry Event and Varying Reactions 
57:30 The Importance of Building a Strong Support Network 
58:30 Where to Find Barb Allen and Her Podcast

Follow Barb here - www.constructionbarb.com or @constructionbarb

Thanks to our sponsor SupplyHouse! - Visit www.supplyhouse.com/t-m

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