Visiting with a contractor recently, I was reminded of some of the not-so-fun things contractors and construction leaders must do. The not-so-fun things like letting a long-term employee go due to his decreasing performance, or having to hold a customer accountable to what was agreed to in a contract, or to not allowing an employee to take off a few days due to your schedule needs even after you had OK'd his time off.

I call these examples, and certainly others that might be more painful or uncomfortable, the "casualties of construction." These are not illegal, immoral or unethical events but decisions a leader is confronted with and must address.

The realities of construction casualties reminded me how important it is for owners or leaders to have a good handle on their values, their view of business and their realistic outlook on making their businesses successful. Let me share a few insights into what many effective contractors do to handle some of the more unpleasant decisions that must be made.

1. Be true to your personal mission. No owner or leader can feel like his "life's mission" or purpose is being trashed. A leader must be firm, not arrogant, in his commitment to treat people with respect and to understand that not everyone else in the world will agree with his mission. That's OK; let the others in your life construct their own missions.

2. Develop a strategic plan for running your company. Even non-owners who are still leaders need a clear view of how they want to lead their organizations or their part of the organization. I love the Old Testament perspective of this insight which says, "Where there is no vision, the people perish." Most "followers" in our companies are drawn to leaders with a vision and a plan. Having such a strategic plan keeps you grounded and provides a reminder when things get cloudy.