Finding Our True North: P1 Partners with Pioneer iQ on Focus, Opportunity, and Purpose

Preparedness is critical to meeting change and successfully scaling growth, and that is exactly what P1 Construction has been working toward over the past six months.

According to the P1 executive team, this has been an exciting opportunity to gather our leadership, reconnect with our purpose, and chart our future with a renewed focus on partnership and sustainability.

“So far, we’re a little over six months into our 18-month commitment to this endeavor, and I can honestly say the process has been refreshing,” P1 Construction CFO Gloria Keating said.

CEO Bruce Belcher notes this work is not about “fixing” something, but taking something that’s already successful and ensuring it remains that way long into the future.

“Going through this process is meant to take our excellent organization and culture and ensure that it continues long-term,” Bruce said. “That includes getting everyone involved by helping employees and customers understand our purpose.”

What is “True North”?

CFO Gloria Keating says “finding our true north” means understanding our purpose.

“We want to walk away with a 10-year vision, aligned with a clear purpose, that is deeply connected with who we are.

“As we focus on growth, we don’t want to leave the partners that got us where we are. As we grow our customer relationships, we believe everyone at P1 will grow right alongside them. This engagement is about building momentum and making sure our strategy translates into attainable results.”

It’s bound to happen over time: several individuals in key leadership positions have retired, or will soon retire, from P1 Construction.

President Kollin Knox notes that this, along with significant company growth, meant it was time to address the future.

“P1 has grown dramatically the last two years, and we’ve averaged 18 percent growth year over year in the last five years,” Kollin said. “This type of explosive growth is a good thing, but it creates challenges and growing pains, too.”

Getting a Second Opinion

P1 leadership knew they couldn’t adequately address these challenges alone.

“Periodically, P1 brings in outside assistance to help guide us through our strategic planning process,” Gloria said. “Over the last few years, our focus has been squarely on managing growth and navigating the challenges that came with it.”

Today, P1 has reached a pivotal moment.

“Bringing in outside expertise is about gaining perspective and looking beyond ourselves. It’s about stepping back and aligning our goals with clarity and intention,” Gloria added.

“Since I have been with the organization, P1 Construction has been fortunate to experience continued profitable growth,” Bruce noted. “As we have grown larger, we came to realize the value in partnering with outside organizations to support that growth. A neutral party can objectively assess our business and question our direction.”

This time, that guidance came in the form of Pioneer iQ (PiQ), with whom P1 was familiar, but hadn’t, until recently, thought of as a partner to help steer a future path for P1.

PiQ is an Olathe, KS-based organization with a business model solely designed to serve the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. PiQ specializes in equipping leaders to navigate market disruptions and innovate business solutions to better meet client needs.

Kollin says P1 chose to work with PiQ because their approach is different.

“They truly tailored their approach to fit P1’s associates’ needs, embrace our culture, and build upon those things we value,” he said.

“What stood out to us was their focus on making intentional decisions grounded in quantitative and measurable feedback,” Gloria said. “That approach fits perfectly with our 100/0 mindset: 100% accountability, 0 excuses.”

“PiQ has their core programs, but they don’t try to force us into their framework,” Bruce said. “They continuously listen and modify the program to fit P1’s needs – operationally and culturally.”

PiQ Founder and President DeWayne Ables says one of the main reasons companies come to PiQ is a desire to identify their purpose – and reach their full potential.

“There are two types of companies in this industry,” DeWayne said. “The first type is focused strictly on projects and profit: ‘get work, do work’.”

“The second type of company knows they can get work and make money just fine, but wants to do something significant. They seek to uncover their greater purpose, understand their impact on those they serve, and scale the company.”

“P1 Construction is the second type,” he said.

  “There are two types of companies in this industry. The first type is focused only on projects and profit. The second type knows they can make money just fine, but wants to do something significant. They seek to uncover their greater purpose, understand their impact on those they serve, and scale the company. P1 is the second type.”

Purpose-Driven Leadership

PiQ helps clients embrace the concept of the journey, guiding people and organizations to find their true purpose, which creates the ability to lead a movement – personal and professional – that will have an enduring impact on the world.

“P1 knows they’re doing really great things already, but there are greater opportunities and they want help getting to that next level,” DeWayne said.

Gloria notes that measurable data is critical to staying on track.

“It is not enough to have a plan – we have to know if we are on track,” she said. “PiQ’s focus on intentional decision-making through measurable, data-driven feedback fits perfectly to help us track progress and correct course as needed.”

DeWayne points out that with growth, identifying the leaders and future leaders in the group is critical, and making a plan to sustain growth without burnout is the goal.

“P1 is committed to investing in the people on their teams to help them become the men and women they want to be, and build the organization in a way that actually controls its direction, rather than letting it go the way the world takes it,” DeWayne said.

“We have gone through a process to identify the next generation of leadership, identifying individuals that showed interest and had the skill set needed to execute our profitable growth while maintaining our culture,” Bruce said.

“Through many years with P1, they know the organization and live the P1 culture. We are confident these leaders will help us grow and succeed.”

Know Thyself

None of this happened in a bubble.

P1 engaged PiQ, along with many P1 associates across office and field, to participate in a series of bootcamps, meetings, surveys and exercises to help guide what will become our “true north”, including succession plans, personnel organization, purpose, vision, and guiding principles.

“We were able to analyze and draw from data from multiple sources gathered beforehand,” Gloria said.
“This was the most inclusive strategic planning process we’ve ever had, and it showed. We gathered input from multiple sources.”

The Future is Here

“We’ve entered a period of accelerated transformation,” Gloria added.

“The speed of change, especially driven by AI and data collection, is unlike anything any of us have seen before. These technological advances are reshaping how we plan, communicate, and execute projects.”

Bruce adds that anticipating what current and future customers need will be part of P1’s success.

“It’s fine to meet the existing needs of customers,” he said. “But we want to go beyond that, and be the solution they didn’t even know they needed. Those that come with us will shape our future.”