Strong Opinions, Loosely Held
This event has already taken place.
Past Event Summary
The session provided a concise overview of why clinging to outdated beliefs can silently stall innovation in the construction industry. Presenter AJ Waters introduced the transformative leadership mindset of “Strong Opinions, Loosely Held”—a framework that encourages professionals to form well-reasoned positions while remaining genuinely open to revision when new evidence emerges. Through thought-provoking examples and real-world technology insights, Waters challenged attendees to reexamine long-held assumptions and embrace adaptive thinking as a professional discipline.
Key Topics Covered
- Dismantling Industry Myths. Waters examined common misconceptions that persist across the construction sector, illustrating how unchallenged assumptions create blind spots that impede progress and organizational resilience.
- Humility Over Hubris. The session made a compelling case that intellectual humility—not certainty—is the hallmark of effective leadership. Professionals who acknowledge the limits of their knowledge are better positioned to adapt and lead through disruption.
- Technology as a Lens for Paradigm Shifts. Real-world technology examples were used to demonstrate how rapidly industry paradigms can shift and why leaders who resist updating their mental models often find themselves behind the curve.
Event Highlights
- Techniques for auditing personal and organizational assumptions on a recurring basis
- A framework for forming strong, defensible positions while holding them with appropriate flexibility
- Strategies for modeling adaptive leadership behavior in ways that influence teams and clients
- Approaches for anticipating and responding to paradigm shifts before they become crises
Photo Gallery
Participant Feedback
"AJ completely reframed how I think about approaching conversations on my projects. I walked in defending methods I've used for years — and walked out questioning all of it. That's exactly the kind of discomfort that leads to growth."
Kent
The Speaker
