As a construction manager, you could be making several crucial work mistakes and not even realize it. If you can learn to recognize and address certain issues, like a lack of planning, it could directly impact your job performance.
5 Common Construction Manager Mistakes and How to Fix Them
1) Poor Planning
Poor planning is one of the biggest downfalls of a construction manager. While you may think you can just wing it, the result can be disastrous.
Establishing short-term and long-term plans for managing a job site is essential to creating a more productive work environment.
What you need to do:
- Define project scope
- Set objectives
- Create milestones
- Establish a work schedule
- Track progress
2) Bad Communication
With all the workplace distractions, good communication can sometimes fall by the wayside on a construction site.
The result of a poor communication flow can have devastating effects on projects. It can hurt everything from morale to safety.
What you need to do:
- Be proactive
- Talk to employees individually
- Hold regular team meetings
- Listen to employees concerns
- Applaud good work
3) Lack of Involvement
As a construction manager, it’s easy to become consumed with your own responsibilities and less involved with everything else going on at the job site.
To be a good construction manager, you need to take charge.
What you need to do:
- Know what everyone is working on
- Set a positive example
- Deal with problems quickly and directly
4) Unhealthy, Unsanitary or Unsafe Working Conditions
A common mistake you might be making is to neglect the working conditions of your job site. Obstructed walkways and unattended spills can cause serious workplace accidents.
Although you don’t have to organize every tool, the condition of a work zone can impact things like:
- Professionalism
- Efficiency
- Safety
- Health
- Morale
5) Spending too Many Hours on the Job
As a manager, you shoulder a lot of responsibility. From motivating employees to customer relations, your day is full of activity. But when overtime becomes the rule rather than the exception, it can hurt your mental and physical health.
What you need to do:
- Establish regular work hours
- Practice time management
- Delegate
- Take breaks
- Leave work at the job site
Fixing these bad habits is a worthwhile project, because you will likely become more productive and less prone to making costly mistakes.