Building Strong Teams and Leadership in Trades

We had the chance to join a powerful conversation on leadership, mental health, and the future of the skilled trades with Lia Lamela of the Sparky Life Podcast

We talked about the shift happening across high-pressure industries—and why communication, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety are no longer “nice to have” skills, but critical leadership tools.

Between Stephen’s boots-on-the-ground experience in electrical contracting and Olivia’s background in corporate business analysis, they bring two worlds together to challenge the old-school leadership mindset that still dominates much of the industry.

"You can't really create like a connection. You can't have a deep human bond. You can't have someone feel like, hey, I understand you, I hear you, I support you, I want what's best for you. But I don't care about how you feel. Like you. It doesn't land that way." – Stephen Dummit

🎧 Listen in to hear:

• Why fear—not laziness or incompetence—is the real barrier to change in the trades

• How shifting from “command and control” to trust-based leadership unlocks better performance

• Why collaboration over competition helps the whole industry rise

• Practical tools leaders can use today to build resilient, connected teams

If you lead in a high-stakes, high-pressure environment and want to build a stronger, safer team, this episode is for you.