"Hardhat to CEO” is the podcast where we dive into the real stories behind the rise of construction business owners who are on a mission to grow, scale, and conquer the challenges that come their way. Join us as we explore the journeys, obstacles, and breakthroughs that define what it means to be an outstanding owner in the construction industry. Whether you're navigating the complexities of growing your business or pushing through tough times, these candid conversations will inspire you to overcome any challenge and reach new heights. Tune in, connect with fellow construction owners, and discover the strategies and insights to build a leading company.
How to Handle Conflict at Work Before It Gets Ugly with Irvine Nugent
What if the hardest conversation you keep avoiding is the one your team needs most? In this episode of Hard Hat to CEO, Chris G talks with Irvine Nugent of Conflict EQ about how leaders can face conflict with more courage, care, and calm. Irvin shares how growing up in Northern Ireland shaped his work, and how one painful leadership moment taught him the cost of avoiding hard talks. They discuss why conflict spreads through a company, how pressure affects our reactions, and why listening can change the whole tone of a conversation. This episode is full of real stories and simple steps to help leaders build trust, stay grounded, and lead with more clarity.
Dr. Irvine Nugent is a leadership and conflict expert who helps leaders turn tension into connection. Drawing on lived experience from Northern Ireland, deep expertise in emotional intelligence, and senior leadership roles, he empowers individuals and teams to navigate conflict constructively and lead with clarity, resilience, and impact.
Connect with Dr. Irvine:
Website: https://www.conflicteq.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irvinenugent
Episode highlights
(0:00) Intro
(0:48) Irvine’s background and Conflict EQ
(1:41) Why most conflict is personal
(3:17) Why communication is not always enough
(6:11) A leadership lesson from losing a key employee
(11:01) Staying calm under pressure
(13:30) Helping people feel heard
(22:19) When CEOs should step in
(27:00) How healthy conflict leads to better decisions
(30:49) How to connect with Irvine
(31:32) Outro
Connect with Hard Hat to CEO on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BrHqc3wdF/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardhattoceo/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgilman/
5 May 2026TRANSCRIPT
Quarterly Goals Don't Work Unless You Do THIS
Chris Gilman explains how implementing quarterly goals and regular check-ins empowers leaders to achieve success and grow into their CEO roles.
30 Apr 2026
Don’t Buy A Rental Property Until You Know This
What if trying to save money on real estate ends up costing you more in the long run? In this episode of Hard Hat to CEO, Chris G talks with New Zealand real estate investor and buyer's agent Hadley Nightingale about how to build a smart property portfolio. Hadley shares why rental income can give you more choices in life, why the deal starts with buying the right property, and why doing your homework before you buy is so important. He also explains why investors should know their goals before looking at houses, how a buyer’s agent can help, and why managing rentals yourself can get stressful fast. From multifamily properties to maintenance costs and lessons learned the hard way, this episode gives real, honest advice for anyone wanting to grow their money tree into an orchard.
Hadley Nightingale is a New Zealand-based real estate investor, buyer's agent, and business owner with around 20 years of property experience. He started his current real estate company in 2020 and has grown it into a team of 13, offering buyers agency, project management, and property management services. Hadley mainly focuses on multifamily properties and small developments, helping investors build strong portfolios that can create long-term income. After learning hard lessons from his own early property mistakes, he now helps clients buy smarter, plan clearly, and avoid costly problems.
Connect with Hadley:
Website: https://www.newzealandpropertybuyers.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadleyn/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/hadleynightingale/
Episode highlights
(0:00) Intro
(1:10) Meet Hadley Nightingale
(1:58) Why building a real estate portfolio matters
(3:29) Making money when you buy, not when you sell
(4:44) Why strategy comes before property shopping
(8:05) The value of using a buyer’s agent
(10:23) How AI is changing real estate work
(13:36) Why owners should not always be operators
(15:17) Key due diligence checks before buying
(17:00) A strong multifamily success story
(20:11) Investing in New Zealand as a foreign buyer
(21:40) Hadley’s biggest early real estate lesson
(23:08) Where to find and learn more from Hadley
(23:35) Outro
Connect with Hard Hat to CEO on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BrHqc3wdF/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hardhattoceo/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dcgilman/
Inside a recent episode
How to Handle Conflict at Work Before It Gets Ugly with Irvine Nugent
Published 7 May 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] You know, I always talk about communication, and what's the best way to deal with conflict? Yeah, it's a great question. And I think, you know, what you said is communication is what we turn to. It's just a poor communication. And that's partly true. But one of the things I like to say as well, it's not just communication, but it's in these moments of pressure, intention, and threat, that somehow we lose our capacity. And just think about it. We have a lot of different conversations every day. Most of them are very easy. There's no problem. But when you add pressure to a conversation, when there's feedback that has to be given, or something, or we feel threatened in a conversation, all of a sudden the skills, which we seem to have access to, dissipate, and collapse. […]
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