In an industry under constant pressure, building businesses often focus on getting the next job done. But according to leadership coach Dan Urquhart, too many builders are missing what really determines long-term success, the culture they create inside their business.
In his recent appearance on The Good Builder Podcast, Urquhart shared why culture is the hidden force that either drives or drags a business, and how failing to shape it deliberately can lead to burnout, high turnover, and silent quitting.
The bus you’re pushing uphill
Urquhart put it bluntly: “Culture is the vehicle that gets you where you want to go. If it’s broken, your vehicle is broken. Someone’s got to get out and push. It means you get there slower. It means everything is a struggle.”
He reflected on his own experience as a builder. “It wasn’t that we didn’t achieve quality. It’s not that we didn’t care. It’s not that as a team we didn’t work hard. The problem was the bus was broken. Most of the time I was out pushing it to get everything done.”
When culture is left to chance rather than deliberately shaped, the cracks eventually appear. And that comes at a cost not just to the leader, but to the entire team.
“We weren’t out of the woods. There’s no silver bullet. But what I can say is if you don’t build the right culture, the cracks will show sooner or later,” said Urquhart.
What makes people stay — or leave
Statistics tell a stark story. “Nearly 450,000 businesses shut down in Australia last year,” said Urquhart. “Not all of them set out to pull up shop. But for whatever reason, they shut up shop. And the number one cause of stress in business is people.”
What keeps good people in a business? Urquhart pointed to global studies that highlight three factors: psychological safety, the opportunity to be trained and developed, and feeling like there is a way forward.
“People actually want to perform,” said Urquhart. “They need a leader who creates a culture that rewards it or tells them when they’re doing well. Without that, they’ll disengage.”
Ng agreed, reflecting on his corporate experience. “Everyone talks about culture. But I think very few know how to actually shape a culture. And if you don’t do it, the cracks will show sooner or later.”
Silent quitting — where employees mentally check out but keep showing up — is a symptom of these cracks. And it’s becoming more common, especially as younger generations seek purpose and connection at work.
“The workforce is shifting. People will only follow someone they want to follow. You need to know how to grow your influence, not shrink it,” said Urquhart.
Shaping a culture that performs
Urquhart urged builders to stop leaving culture to chance. “Your culture is how you do things, which becomes who you are. You’ve got a culture whether you know it or not. The question is — has it naturally evolved, or been deliberately forged?”
He explained that high-performing teams need to know why the business exists, where it’s going, and what winning looks like. Without that clarity, teams feel like they’re playing a game without knowing the rules or the score.
“It’d be like turning up to training every day and never playing the game. Or not knowing where you are on the scoreboard,” said Urquhart.
So how do builders start shaping a winning culture?
- Communicate your vision: Make sure your team knows why you exist, where you’re going, and how you’re going to get there.
- Set standards and values: Define what a win looks like and hold each other accountable.
- Reward performance: Make sure people know when they’re doing a good job.
- Invest in development: “It’s not enough to train the hand. We need to train the hand, head and heart,” said Urquhart.
The power of help
Urquhart’s final message was that builders don’t have to do this alone. “Leaders aren’t meant to do things alone. It’s one of those things in Australia — people keep to themselves and work harder. But without change, nothing will change. And there are people who can help.”
Urquhart is offering 10 per cent off his Hand Head Heart program for anyone who mentions The Good Builder. Just head to his website at thousandfeetdeep.com.au to learn more or get in touch.
If you’ve got a story to tell or a perspective to share, get in touch with us here at The Good Builder.
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