If you have been hired to oversee a construction project, you already know that the tasks come with a weight of responsibility. The success or failure of the project will rest on you, and you want to ensure that you get the job done on or before the deadline.. If it is a new project, this places even more pressure on you as the project manager, so how do you pull it off?
Here are tips project managers use to ensure the success of their assignments, and if you imbibe them, you should do well in your new role. Let’s dive right in.
Delegate From The Start
If it is a large project with more than two mutually exclusive tasks taking place simultaneously, learn to delegate responsibilities to other team members from the start. Peruse your tram and decide on the personnel you trust to manage aspects of that project and report to you.
Delegation and collaboration are important for the smooth running of operations, so don’t take them for granted. Unless the project is of a limited scale, you need all the help you can get. Encouraging team building is the way to go.
Be Careful With Criticisms
Using criticism as a weapon is one of the tools of managers, but this is a double-edged sword. If you use it wrongly, you may elicit a negative response from the workers. Note that you are on a deadline and don’t want to fail. One common mistake in the construction industry is to find managers blaming the wrong people for errors or apportioning too much blame. This can be counterproductive, so be careful.
To manage effectively, you want to get all the facts before pointing fingers; when you do, don’t overdo it. Let your rebuke be calm and measured. Also, tell the team to follow the chain of command when providing feedback.
Hold People Accountable
This is a follow-up to the last tip, and it is very important. The responsibility for the success or failure of the construction project rests with you, so you must always be on your toes. It is common for workers to circumvent protocols set by management, which can be counterproductive or dangerous at worst. If you notice workers ignoring instructions, especially as it relates to safety, call them out promptly. Delay is dangerous, and you will be held responsible for whatever happens at work.
Regular & Rigorous Inspection
You must conduct rigorous and regular inspections as the project moves from one stage to the next. In fact, don’t sign off a level without inspection to ensure that they meet set guidelines and standards. Inspection is part of the responsibility of a project manager. Track Resources
Construction projects require a lot of materials that cost a lot of money. Two things you want to avoid are material wastage and theft. Failing to track resources will lead to shoddy work, escalating costs, and missed deadlines. If you cannot track resources on your own, use management software to keep stock of materials used. If you decide to buy metal online, you need to know what is delivered before they are used.
This will help you manage multiple project components, and your bosses will be happy with you. You also want to ensure that materials are readily available whenever needed so work will not stall.
Provide Clear Roadmaps
The onus lies with you to create clear roadmaps for the construction workers. If workers understand their tasks, man-hours will not be wasted on unnecessary tasks, nor will they spend too much time on one task. Every stage must have specific goals and objectives that must be met and only after completion can you sign off for the next stage.
Make Contingency Plans
To conclude the article in tips, to oversee a new project, you must make contingent plans. Projects don’t always go as planned, and delays could occur. Make wiggle room to correct mistakes or make up for delays or accidents should they occur. This will prevent drags and ensure timely work completion.
Conclusion
Taking charge of a construction project is never an easy task, as so many components are involved. You will also be dealing with a team and subcontractors you have little control over, and they can all impact the quality and speed of work—ensuring that all the moving parts are functioning as well as they should be your priority. You should also inspect the quality of work before signing it as complete at any stage. This is the only way to guarantee success in line with project objectives. Finally, make sure you delegate responsibilities to team members you can trust.
