Empowering Your Project Team – Insights From General Contractors

Managing projects and creating estimates for construction can be a daunting task. In this article, we’ll learn how General Contractors Tacoma WA can improve their estimation processes by empowering their teams.

Empowering your team can help motivate them to put more effort into their work, and ultimately lead to greater job satisfaction and productivity. However, it’s important to note that employee empowerment is more than a buzzword.

Empower Your Team

The more team members feel empowered, the better they will work together. They will be able to make independent decisions and take responsibility for their tasks without having to ask for permission from you or another leader. This type of team is not only easier to manage but also more productive and effective.

To create an empowered team, start by giving them autonomy on their project. Depending on the level of experience and personality of each member, you can assign tasks that will challenge them or even let them lead a portion of a larger project. While this may seem like a large step for many leaders, it is important to remember that you will still be there to oversee the process and ensure that the task is being completed correctly.

If your team members are struggling with a task, be sure to provide them with guidance and support. This will help them grow and give them the confidence that they can tackle any challenges they come across. Also, be sure to recognize their accomplishments. This will further encourage them to continue working hard for the company.

In addition, it is important to allow team members to share their ideas with you. This is especially true when it comes to new methods of completing a task or improving a workflow. This demonstrates that you value their input and that they are an essential part of the project team.

If you do not listen to your team’s suggestions, they will lose faith in their ability to perform well. Also, if you reverse a decision that a team member makes, they will not be motivated to make decisions on their own again.

Create A Positive Work Environment

As you empower your team, creating a positive work environment is important to build trust and keep your team motivated. Negative environments are toxic for employees and can lead to burnout, low productivity, poor mental health, and high levels of staff churn.

To foster a positive workplace, be transparent about company policies and procedures. This can help dispel rumors and create a sense of fairness. Encourage collaboration by providing opportunities for team members to share ideas and opinions. Listen to what your team members have to say and take it into account when making decisions. Ensure that your team has clear communication by holding frequent meetings, using email and other technology to communicate daily activities, and providing status updates. Consider adding workout equipment to your workspace to help employees stay healthy and active during their breaks.

If an employee makes a mistake, be gentle when addressing it. Instead of pointing out the error, explain what steps they could have taken to avoid it in the future. This will show your employees that you have their best interests in mind and can help them learn from their mistakes.

Encourage a healthy work-life balance by giving employees the flexibility to choose their schedules, if possible. Providing flexible scheduling also helps employees manage their personal lives and reduces the stress that comes with working overtime. Finally, be sure to offer competitive benefits, such as wellness programs and paid time off, so your employees feel like they have a good place to work. A positive workplace can boost productivity by up to 12 percent.

Build Trust

Whether working on-site or remotely, trust is a key component of teamwork. Teams in high-trust environments experience 74 percent less stress, 50 percent more productivity, and 40 percent lower turnover. But how can project managers build a culture of trust?

Many general contractors are actively addressing this challenge by creating more diverse hiring practices and supporting the professional development of their employees. They’re also investing in new tools and technology that help to speed up workflows and improve communication. In doing so, they’re ensuring their teams have what it takes to succeed on the job.

The construction industry is full of risks, and many of them involve people. That’s why GCs take precautions to protect themselves and their clients from accidents on the job site. They must store their tools safely, invest in asset tracking systems, and perform regular inspections of all equipment. They must also ensure their employees are trained in proper safety procedures and have the appropriate workers’ compensation coverage. In addition, they must be mindful of premises liability and fall risk and consider the potential for theft of equipment and materials.

As a result, GCs tend to focus on safety as their primary objective and invest in tools that will provide them with rich data and streamline processes. They know that if their tools aren’t scalable, they will struggle to grow their business. As a result, they are willing to innovate as long as the implemented tool can handle their current workflows and future needs. Similarly, they’re interested in tools that support collaboration and allow them to quickly scale up or down as needed. They also need tools that can be used across time zones, borders, and even hemispheres.

Make Decisions Together

In the fast-paced world of construction, there’s a lot to keep track of scheduling, budgets, clients, and employees. To be truly productive, everyone must make decisions quickly and accurately.

Whether the decision is as small as which material to use or as large as what type of construction to build, it must be made and agreed upon. A good general contractor should use a decision-making framework that ensures the team can make informed choices quickly and confidently. A decision-making process is also a great way to develop trust and accountability in your project teams.

When evaluating potential GCs, look for ones who have experience working with a variety of project stakeholders. They should be able to communicate effectively and understand your vision for the project. They should be able to work harmoniously with all other project team members, including architects, engineers, and subcontractors.

Look for a GC who has a strong record of delivering projects within budget and on schedule. They should be able to manage any issues that may arise and have a solid network to call on for specialized tasks. Additionally, they should be able to provide quality workmanship that minimizes maintenance issues in the future.

Many GCs belong to professional organizations that offer industry insights and resources. These networks offer networking opportunities, which can lead to new business or partnerships. They can also provide opportunities to learn about best practices and emerging trends. Often, associations also engage in advocacy, representing their members at local, state, or national levels. This can influence legislation, safety regulations, and other industry standards. They can also provide information on insurance options, such as builders’ risk coverage, for their equipment and materials while they’re working on a project.

Create Accountability

When a task is assigned, team members need to have the right mindset about what that means. They should see it as an opportunity to prove their value to the project — not a burden they will have to shoulder alone.

Having clear expectations and providing regular updates foster accountability. This is especially crucial when the project involves a lot of moving parts, and even the smallest errors can have large consequences. It’s also helpful to create a safe environment for discussing mistakes productively so that everyone can learn from them. This can be done by encouraging employees to bring solutions to issues rather than simply pointing out problems.

Another way to promote accountability is by setting up one-on-one meetings with team members regularly. During these sessions, individuals can discuss any questions or concerns they have about their projects and how to improve their work. While this may seem like an intimidating approach, a constructive tone can be maintained throughout the conversation to prevent it from becoming accusatory.

General contractors often have sizable fleets of trucks and trailers that require a commercial driver’s license and compliance with FMCSA regulations on load securement. Moreover, their projects often involve heavy equipment and materials that can pose hazards on the road. Therefore, they take steps to ensure the safety of their workforce by training on defensive driving techniques and ensuring all equipment is properly secured.

GCs know local building codes inside and out, which helps them avoid costly code violations that could delay or derail projects. They also have access to reputable resources and quality materials at lower prices due to volume discounts. Furthermore, they spend time vetting subcontractors and building strong relationships with them, giving them advantages that regular homeowners don’t have.