What is the value of raising the bar if the result is not a gift of learning offered up to all who desire? With this in mind, I share my tools and years of experience with operating teams and projects with an “Integrated Structure & Mindset.” I hope you enjoy…
Integrated Structure & Mindset
Throughout my career, I’ve been fortunate to work with exceptional teams who helped me shape, test, and refine a suite of tools designed to guide the holistic journey of a project—from the very first question to final turnover. I’ve spent over 25 years on the owner’s side, not just delivering projects but also reshaping what ownership means.
IMHO, it’s the owner’s responsibility to set the tone, to make the right ask, to define clear expectations, and to create an environment where those proudly hired could surpass even their own expectations.
That kind of performance doesn’t happen by accident. It takes the realignment of knowledge, the courage to ask better questions, and the discipline to build an integrated, shareable, and predictable platform—regardless of the contract vehicle.
Today, my work looks different. But the mission remains the same. I’m here to give that knowledge back—to mentor, to coach, to lead formal alignment sessions, to guide retrospectives, and to speak where challenge is welcome, and thought runs deep.
As part of this mission, I’m sharing the following files that comprise my thinking, framework, templates, and tools that helped guide my projects and teams.
I hope they inspire you or get you thinking. And please improve them and make them your own to support those coming next.
My Toolkit of Templates
What you’ll find here isn’t theory. It’s a set of field-tested, team-validated frameworks built around one fundamental belief: that success comes not just from what we build, but from how we lead, how we listen, and how we decide—together.
The following integrated tools were developed as a foundation for healthier teams, stronger outcomes, and a more aligned project experience (no matter the size, complexity, or contract type):
- Integrated Leadership: Rhythm of the Task: an overview of the structure of both a Steering Team and Core Team on integrated healthcare projects, covering who should be on each team, what they each own, and how they can operate rhythmically to guide, align, and empower the whole team. (PDF file)
- Integrated Communication Matrix: an overview of the communication framework for a project, including the structure, authority, documentation requirements, communication approaches, and roles, as well as recommendations and turnaround times for responses. (PDF file)
- Integrated Team Health Program: an overview of how to create and sustain a holistic, high-trust, continuous learning environment for the project team, covering core principles, program components, benchmarks and metrics, retrospectives, owner engagement steps, and tools to support your program. (PDF file)
- Integrated Team Conflict Resolution Guide: an overview of the key commitments to make as a team on how to resolve conflicts, includes a conflict resolution matrix to map out the type of conflict, first action, parties involved, and escalation steps, if needed, as well as tools and timing. (PDF file)
- Integrated Team Decision-Making Flow & Structure: a governance and decision-making framework centered around structure, accountability, education, and value, including step-by-step guidelines and optional resources. (PDF file)
- Integrated Team Decision-Making — The Why: a Lean A3 decision-making template that covers the “why” narrative of decisions, includes the current state, desired future state, drivers for this evaluation, stakeholder review, impact matrix, team summary, leadership action requested as a result, next steps, and learning notes. (PDF file)
- Integrated Team A3-Based Template: a structured, single-page document used to guide problem solving, process improvement, or project management—rooted in Lean construction principles. (PDF file)
- The Art of the Ask (my personal favorite): my views on how to shift from traditional questions to integrated questions during the RFP process and to better define the outcome of your project. (PDF file)
- Clarity in the Chaos (extremely important): my explanation of the difference, priority, and order for the terms Collaboration, Alignment, and Integration. Hint: they are not the same, and you do need all three. (PDF file)
- The Dot Test – Create a Measure of Accountability: an overview document explaining why and how to conduct an interactive feedback session that will deliver a formal, visual, and measurable pulse of your team across eight key areas. (PDF file)
- The Dot Test – Team Retrospective Exercise: a printable template to use as a way to capture team feedback as outlined in the above-referenced narrative file. (PDF file)
These materials are meant to be shared—not to prescribe a single path forward, but to encourage new thinking and better questions. I believe deeply that our industry is on the edge of a new era—one that demands integration over silos, alignment over heroics, and leadership rooted in clarity and accountability.
I offer this body of work not as a final answer, but as a spark—an invitation. If you find value in it, or if you find yourself disagreeing and wanting to dig deeper, I welcome that. Sometimes it’s the friction that moves us forward.
I’m here for coaching, collaboration, or just robust conversation. Reach me at DentonWilson@IC3.LLC. Let’s raise the bar—together and for “those we might never meet”.
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Denton Wilson
Denton Wilson is founder and owner of IC3.llc (Integration + Collaboration + 3). He is a nationally recognized passionate forward thinker, mentor, coach, and collaborative leader. He has spent over 25 years in the owner’s seat as well as five years on the architectural/contractor’s side and has overseen over $3 billion in project value. Denton’s focus is on two primary areas – the project team environment and integrated leadership. He is the creator of the 14-step “Structure of Collaboration” model that unites project teams to focus on the project. He is at a moment in his journey to give back to the industry and is offering up his knowledge and tools to spur both individuals and the construction industry as a whole.
