7 Tips For Becoming A Better Construction Leader

We all know the phrase ‘there’s no ‘i’ in ‘team’’. But joking aside, it’s vital to remember that as a construction executive you cannot achieve ultimate success without a strong team behind you.

One of, or possibly the, biggest influence on how strong a team is is the strength of leadership. A great construction leader will be able to inspire a team, get the very best out of them and ensure that he, and the rest of the team, achieve success.

Success can be completing a project in time, within budget - or just completing it with minimal roadbumps or dramas. Want to know what it takes to be a better construction leader? Check out these seven tips.

1. Communicate

Possibly the most obvious tip, but fatal if you underestimate it - communication! Communication lies at the heart of all management, and great communication can be key to a successful job.

Whether it’s keeping your workers in the know with changes to a project, or walking them through the process of using a piece of equipment in a clear and engaging manner. Effective communication will help you avoid misunderstandings, frustrations and ultimately lead to a happier, smarter team.

2. Be a strong decision maker

No one wants to be led by someone who can’t make a decision. As a construction executive, a construction leader, you’re there to make the decisions. Your team will look to you for guidance and a clear understanding of the route the project is taking. Struggling to make a decision can be costly for a project, too, if the result is it’s delayed.

Don’t sow seeds of doubt or compromise clarity by not being able to make a decision. Decide and get things moving along. Your team will respect you more for it.

3. Be always available and always approachable

Hold-ups can be caused simply because a worker is wasting time looking for their leader (maybe because they need him to make a decision!). Even if it’s not in person (although that is usually best), be contactable via phone or email.

An open door policy will encourage your workers to speak to you if there is an issue, or if they have an idea that you, the team and the project can benefit from.

4. Be an optimist

Your mood will inspire - or drag down - the team. You need to maintain an optimist attitude even during uncertain times, as this will help to inspire team members to keep pushing forward.

Being an optimist, and promoting optimism, doesn’t mean giving workers false hope - the best construction leaders will use optimism as a way of motivating your workers and encourage them to focus on the successes of the team.

5. Be an expert, but not a smarta$$

The expertise you’ll have as a construction leader is invaluable, and it will guide and inform your team.

Pass on your knowledge and give helpful tips to workers. Suggest best practices, recall your own experiences and even mentor younger members of the team. But keep a check on it - a know-it-all is not always a great boss to have.

6. Always enforce safety protocols

You can be an optimist, the boss your workers can turn to - and always available to them - but remember, at the end of the day you’re there to ensure a job gets done. Plus, you need to oversee that it gets done safely.

Ensure you’re always communicating safety procedures and potential risks to your team. Lead by actions, and don’t assume that every team member knows how to use a particular piece of equipment safely, or has a thorough understanding of on-site safety measures.

7. Assess your skills

We know that there are very few, if any, construction executives out there with a perfect set of skills. Being self-aware, knowing your weaknesses and understanding where you need to improve is actually a massive strength.

Particularly, assess your leadership skills. Ask others on your level what they think your strengths and weaknesses are. Take an online leadership quiz. Seek out a mentor who can guide you on effective leadership.

Whatever you can do to improve your skills as a construction leader can only benefit you, as well as your team and the project you’re working on.

Thank you for reading this blog post. If your a contractor or homeowner and have any questions regarding our services, please feel free to reach out anytime.

Phone: 250-878-2266

Email: info@troydemolitioncalgary.ca