Construction jobs are complex with a lot of moving parts. They often require multiple trades to collaborate, each contributing their unique skills to the job. With such a variety of different companies, subcontractors, and skill sets coming together, there’s plenty of opportunity for miscommunication, errors, and delays.
What does this mean for the construction industry?
Many projects fall behind schedule and exceed their budgets. Unfortunately, this is an all-too-common problem in the construction industry.
When PDI Drywall was founded, the aim was to steer clear of these typical mistakes and run my company differently. The goal was to build a business that prioritizes quality and accelerates project timelines. The objective was to create a place where positive work environments are the norm and everyone is fairly compensated for their hard work. I’m proud to say we’ve achieved this at PDI.
What’s our secret? We focus on building strong relationships by managing people with respect and communication.
As a result, our jobs consistently finish ahead of schedule and under budget.
Why Are Strong Relationships Important in the Construction Industry?
Our philosophy is right there in our company motto: “The only thing we build better than walls is relationships.” But why do we put so much emphasis on constructing these connections?
Strong relationships serve as the bedrock of our success. Large-scale construction projects are a team effort, and we rely on every member of our team to play their part. Our dedicated subcontractors are the skilled hands behind the buildings we construct. They are pivotal to our success.
We treat our team with the respect they’ve earned which fosters strong relationships and effective communication. This leads to maximized productivity and seamless collaboration. As a result, we have less employee turnover, improved performance, and reduced time spent on training. This directly relates to our efficiency and overall success.
Practicing open communication could be just what your construction company needs to improve efficiency, expedite project timelines, and improve your bottom line. To get started, consider implementing the following steps into your business:
- Establish ongoing communication
- Practice active listening
- Lead by example
- Motivate with positivity
- Use digital plans and estimates
How to Manage Your Team For Improved Efficiency
Whether you’re managing a large or small team, these strategies are important and effective. With nearly 20 years of experience in the construction industry at PDI Drywall, we’ve honed our expertise in leadership and project management. Let’s dive into those steps in more detail.
Establish Ongoing Communication
To be truly effective, open communication needs to become a habitual practice within your company. It’s important for business owners and project managers to play an active role in encouraging and promoting regular interaction among all employees. Just like any skill, effective communication requires consistent practice over time. Eventually, it will become second nature within your company.
By practicing communication regularly, employees and subcontractors will develop a sense of engagement and openness. As they become more comfortable with communicating both amongst themselves and with management, the quality of communication naturally improves. It’s important to let your team know that their ideas are not only valued but essential to the company’s growth and success. This leads us to our next tip, which is to…
Practice Active Listening
Communication isn’t just about speaking. Listening plays an equally, if not more, crucial role in the process. Effective communication requires project managers to truly listen when new information and solutions are presented to them.
To practice active listening, it’s important to remove distractions like phones and loud noises. Set aside time to listen to employees, subcontractors, general contractors, and other tradesmen. Ask them for feedback and inside knowledge on what works and what doesn’t work. Allow them to speak without interruption, even if you disagree.
Building a reputation as a good listener is a crucial step to fostering respect and cultivating an environment of effective communication. Your employees will feel more comfortable approaching you with the information you need to maximize efficiency.
This approach has proved instrumental in completing multi-unit building projects on time. By actively listening to our subcontractors and fellow tradesmen, we are better equipped to address issues as they arise, preventing a lengthy list of change orders that often lead to costly delays.
Lead by Example
Leading by example is a powerful motivational tool within the construction industry. When owners and managers hold themselves to the highest standard, this commitment ripples through every facet of their team. Witnessing their leaders demonstrate unwavering work ethics, uphold integrity, and treat everyone with respect sends a powerful message: these values are non-negotiable cornerstones of the company’s identity.
At PDI, we pay our subcontractors above market rate to show that we value and respect their work. We also maintain a manageable schedule, foregoing the temptation to overload our team with unrealistic expectations. This way, our team can concentrate on providing good quality work within realistic timeframes.
Excellent project management creates positive work environments built on respect. We’ve found that our team naturally adopts this attitude and extends it to their interactions, fostering open and transparent communication. They also apply it to their work with strong attention to detail and minimal mistakes.
Motivate With Positivity
It’s not uncommon for job sites to adopt a “dog-eat-dog” mentality, resorting to back-charging other trades for minor mistakes as a way to earn a greater profit. Unfortunately, this competitive mindset only harms everyone involved.
In contrast, maintaining a positive attitude and building strong relationships between different trades and companies leads to better communication and greater efficiency in the construction industry. At PDI, we don’t back-charge other trades for minor mistakes and damages to our work. Instead of seeking profit at the expense of our fellow tradesmen, we prefer to work together to optimize efficiency.
For instance, if our drywall is damaged by another tradesman, they promptly let us know so we can fix it without hesitation. If the situation is reversed, our fellow tradesmen provide the same prompt and understanding response. These positive interactions lead to mutual respect and cooperation, allowing us to work together to achieve the common goal of finishing the project as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Use Digital Plans and Estimates
Using digital plans and estimates has a profound impact on improving communication and efficiency in the construction industry. A cloud-based system allows everyone to literally be on the same page with the most up-to-date information. Digital plans can be updated in real time, preventing delays and miscommunication caused by outdated plans.
Digital plans are also more accessible and viewable on multiple devices, including tablets, laptops, and smartphones. This accessibility allows field workers to view plans and estimates on-site, improving decision-making and reducing downtime. As an added bonus, digital plans reduce paper waste, minimizing our carbon footprint.
As your team focuses on establishing ongoing communication and improving efficiency, it’s crucial for the project manager to provide their team with the most accurate and precise form of information possible.
Fostering a Culture of Efficiency and Collaboration in Construction
In a highly competitive industry, where collaboration and effective communication are key, adopting these strategies can make a substantial difference in your company’s overall success. You’ll find that your construction company thrives when you focus on building more than strong structures. Focus on building strong relationships, communication, and a culture of respect and cooperation.
At PDI, we consistently demonstrate how effective communication and efficient management can yield remarkable results. Our commitment to fostering strong relationships, maintaining open lines of communication, and leading by example has consistently allowed us to complete projects ahead of schedule and under budget.
Are you interested in creating change in your construction business?
Would you benefit from more innovation, efficiency, and communication?
You might benefit from an expert coach with nearly two decades of experience in the construction industry. My name is Mikki Paradis and I started PDI Drywall in 2005 as a 23-year-old female entrepreneur. I’ve grown PDI into a prosperous, multi-million dollar drywall enterprise that works with some of North Carolina’s most accomplished development firms.
Apart from running my company, my passion lies in helping other businesses achieve similar success. I work as a public speaker and consultant to help companies learn and improve. If your company is in need of education and training about project management, efficiency benchmarks, effective communication strategies, or gender diversity in the construction industry, don’t hesitate to get in touch today.
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