Welcome back to the SiTech Rocky Mountain blog! In our last post, A Few Tips For Construction Project Managers, we did exactly what a blog of that title would suggest we did; we provided a few tips for construction project managers. In blog prior to that, we’ve frequently discussed the kind of construction management technology and solutions we offer here at SiTech Rocky Mountain, but our last blog (and today’s) shift gears a bit.
Instead of discussing our machine control systems or mining technology, we’ll be a bit more down to earth, as we discuss some attributes which make high-quality managers a pleasure to work for on the construction site. Now, like part one (of this now two-part series), a few of these management tips will be applicable beyond the construction site, and that’s a good thing! So even if you aren’t currently the foreman managing a crew, you might still find a pearl or two worth hanging onto for later on in life.
Part One Review
While we’d encourage you to go back and read part one in its entirety, we understand that our readers don’t have all day and they aren’t hanging on our every word (to our eternal dismay). That’s why we’ll recap what we addressed in part one below:
- Organization – The best managers are those who are organized well. This keeps your own head on straight, for one thing, but it also helps others know that you are on top of things. Plus, it’s fairly difficult to give constructive feedback to your crew about their misgivings when you aren’t seen as organized and together yourself!
- Be Personal – Be personal and be real. Work is work, which means it’s not always going to be a walk in the park or everyone’s favorite activity. So don’t pretend you are perfect or always happy or anything like that. People can see through that kind of facade, and usually they’ll respect you for your candor and realness.
- Stay On Schedule – Here’s one thing it would behoove you to become obsessed over. No matter the particular project at hand, deadlines matter. The best way you can brand yourself is to stick to your word by staying on schedule. Creating a culture that recognizes the importance of meeting deadlines is key to your success.
- Delegate – Again, you don’t have to be all things for all people. And the only way you are going to be a consistently effective manager is to be able to empower those under you to take some of the duties off of your plate. This will help you from burning out!
All that being said, let’s dive into the aforementioned tip providing!
Become A Great Listener
When most of us think about being a good listener, we might be prone to think about some surface-level traits, such as waiting until the other person is done talking, acknowledging what they have said in some regard, or nodding and making eye contact while the other person is talking.
But there is more to being a good listener than waiting until the other person’s lips have stopped moving. We’d also argue that listening well is a key trait of any successful manager, so if you want to be one, listen up!
The art of effective listening starts well before you ever sit down to talk with the employee in question. While every person is different, it’s important that you remind yourself not to jump to any conclusions while listening, and by the same token you don’t want to presume to know your employee’s motivations for certain behaviors. You should always give them the respect that they are due, understanding that they are a person with a life outside of work. No matter how hard any of us try, it’s often very difficult to leave emotional baggage of home at home.
So even if your employee might not reveal what is going on, if they aren’t acting like themselves, give them the benefit of the doubt, and watch them rise to the occasion! You might think the solution to their problem is obvious, but simply telling them what to do won’t always do the trick because they aren’t the one who has come up with the solution. Ownership of the idea is key to it being successful in this regard.
Understand Your Employees & Their Roles
One of the best signs of a successful manager is determined by the degree of turnover their workforce exhibits. Obviously, satisfied workers will stick around longer, which in turn leaves the manager in good stead. So the manager’s task becomes ensuring their workforce is satisfied.
While this is a conversation with many variables, most of which we won’t discuss in today’s blog, two of the best ways a manager can positively impact their crew’s satisfaction levels are 1) by making sure they hire people who like the job’s tasks in the first place, and 2) that you are doing what you can to align your crew’s passions and preferences with the actual work.
On a more practical level, that looks like understanding your employees. This requires getting to know them, asking them about what they like and don’t like about the job, and generally being open to input from employees. It also means you need to have a deep understanding of each role on your team; what kind of person would enjoy doing task x on a daily basis? Thinking about these questions in a proactive way will help you out in a big way down the road.
Constructive Criticism & The Oreo Method
Giving feedback is one of the most difficult things you can do as a manager. You want to respect your employee while making sure that the message hits home. On the one hand, if you aren’t firm enough your employee might not get the seriousness of what you are talking about, but on the other (heavy) hand, coming in too hot is a sure-fire way to antagonize your employee and have them shut down completely. Neither extreme will do, so finding a balance is key.
When in doubt, go with the “Oreo method,” although we aren’t quite sure that’s the technical term. All it means is that you should start with praise, provide constructive feedback in a clear and concise way, and then conclude with another affirming statement. Now, seeing as how you are the manager, you’ll need to give yourself some credit to be able to determine the specifics each time you do this; no two employees or situations are alike.
Catch Your Employees Doing Something Right
Our final piece of advice we’ll keep short and simple; catch your workforce doing things well, and then praise them for it! It will keep spirits high and make sure your staff knows they are appreciated. What’s more, it shows them you care about the quality of work that goes on.
Ultimately, trust your instincts and go with your gut, but the best instincts in the world will never replace being proactive and intentional as a manager. Thanks for reading, and we hope this blog helps you out no matter what kind of manager you are!
For the best construction management technology in Colorado and beyond, reach out to us at SiTech Rocky Mountain. We’d love to hear from you!