How to Lead and Manage a Construction Project
A construction project always has a final product to deliver. The product is always expected to be delivered within budget, on time, and to the client's desired specs. How to lead and manage a construction project has everything to do with fulfilling those expectations. A project manager is ultimately tasked with this job and these responsibilities.
Here are some strategies to guide a construction project better and manage its dozens of variables.
Be the Example
Lead by example. Hold yourself accountable. Be transparent. Demonstrate a strong work ethic. Conducting yourself as an example to your team is inspiring and the best way to show what leadership is. The result is building up morale and trust.
Plan and Re-Plan
Take the time to plan. Map out project phases and break them down in detail. As a project progresses, you may need to adjust the plan. Do so quickly and smoothly, and always maintain a plan when going into a day's work on the construction site.
Set Up Contingencies
Anything can go wrong. The unexpected can happen. Pack in contingencies from a schedule, budget, and resource perspective. This ensures nothing is overlooked and that even when the unexpected occurs, management can respond effectively without missing a beat.
Identify the Risks
Common construction risks include weather delays, material shortages, or labour disputes. Have mitigation strategies ready for what you cannot resolve and resolve what you can. Risk assessments are key to setting up a safe, efficient construction project.
Use Construction Technology
There are dozens of ways to utilize tech in construction. Drones, BIM, IoT sensors, and more improve safety and efficiency. In addition, AI automation and technology can dramatically reduce the time and effort management has to put in.
Centralized Software
Manage a construction project from a single piece of software. Centralize all data, scheduling, budgeting, and resource management in a single program. This is the most efficient way to monitor and manage a construction project.
Monitor Tasks By Software
Leverage your construction software to manage and monitor project phases and assigned tasks. Ensure team leads are providing regular work updates so that you can see how progress is being made.
Be a Collaborator
A construction project requires streamlined communication between contractors, clients, and teams. As a manager, ensure you are a collaborator and open to hearing others' ideas. Also, respond efficiently to concerns, questions, and suggestions.
Do Not Miss a Meeting
Hold regularly scheduled meetings to address concerns and review progress. If in-person meetings are not possible, use video conferencing. Use digital communication tools to provide real-time updates, automate reports, and respond quickly to messaging.
Promote Safety On-Site
Enforce strong safety protocols using safety checklists and training programs. Record safety incidents and employ corrective action to resolve them. Always adhere to safety standards.
Be Decisive as a Manager
Speak clearly and be decisive with your construction teams. Strong communication is critical to a successful project. Treat every interaction as an opportunity to service a relationship with another project stakeholder.
Guard Against Scope Creep
Set a project scope at the onset and regularly review it to ensure nothing impacts it. Unnecessary additions inflate costs and schedules. Be transparent in your desire to keep to the agreed-upon project scope.
Carefully Monitor Spending
Manage spending and detect where there is overspending, adjusting your budget accordingly—track costs in real-time. Monitor expenses and cash flow. Compare actual costs against predicted costs. Please do not wait to make timely adjustments when they benefit the project.
Hire the Best Professionals
Hire skilled professionals based on expertise and their ability to meet project requirements. The better the people you hire, the more effective your efforts will be to fulfill the project's demands.
Manage Subcontractors Effectively
Contractors are one thing, subcontractors are another. Set clear expectations for your subcontractors, i.e. deliverables, timelines, and how to expect payment. This clear communication and guidance can prevent disputes and sets the expectation for behaviour.
Prioritize Quality Assurance
Set quality standards and benchmarks for evaluating materials, artistry, and outcomes. Quality assurance ensures consistent quality that your clients can rely on. Perform regular inspections, scheduled beforehand and logged afterward in construction management software.
Focus on Client Satisfaction
Your client's view of your construction project is the perspective that matters. If you provide updates and they do not like what they hear, that's an invitation to talk to them about making changes. Client satisfaction and feedback are imperative.
Maintain Up-to-Date Knowledge
Understand safety and work regulations, keep tabs on the latest construction technology, and maintain knowledge of industry trends. All of this studying and knowledge ensures your management team can produce the best result for the project.
