4 Tips for Managing Your First Construction Project

When you work as a construction project manager, you must be equipped with various skills and a great deal of knowledge specific to the industry. Leading a construction project means you must have all the traits of a traditional project manager, but also understand the construction industry and how it operates. You must know how to work with a diverse group of people, clearly convey instructions, and make sure various aspects of the project are going smoothly all at once. As you begin your work as a construction project manager, you want to feel confident in your abilities. It can all seem a bit overwhelming at first, but use these tips to help make your responsibilities a little less stressful.

Develop great organization

The first step you must take in order to be a successful construction project manager and developing outstanding organizational skills. Like I mentioned above, there are many aspects of a project occuring at once that you’re required to oversee. With any major project, you need to cultivate organizational skills in order to stay on top of everything and make sure nothing is overlooked. In order for a construction project to go smoothly, the manager must have superb organizational skills to make sure that everything progresses according to plan and avoid any serious logistical or planning issues.

Value communication

Since so many people are working together on construction projects, it’s vital that you have developed communication skills and recognize the value of it when communicating with others working on the project. A successful construction project manager recognizes that they must communicate with people at every level of the project and be able to convey goals and directions in a clear way. Also, make sure the people working with you understand that you’re open to answering questions and discussing the project; you’ll find the work goes more quickly if you’re viewed as approachable and can help solve problems. Ask questions and be open to suggestions from those you’re working with on the project.

Understand guidelines

When working in construction, there are many regulations and guidelines that go along with the industry. If you’re going to be managing a construction project, it’s vital that you have a solid understanding of these guidelines and how they affect you. You need to make sure you, and everyone you’re directing, follow any existing laws. Take time to study the regulations and requirements for your specific type of construction project and be informed about any changes. Educate the others working on your project as well so you’re all aware of the guidelines and on the same page.

Automate everything

No matter what industry you work in, this piece of advice is gold. If something can be automated in a way that makes managing your construction project easier, do it. If there is software or technology out there that makes your job easier and can help with accurate reporting, take advantage of it. Even if the automation is as simple as automatic payments or tracking the time put into various tasks, use these tools. However, remember to check up on your automated services every so often; even technology isn’t perfect.

These are just a few tips that can help make managing your first construction project go more smoothly. You’ll likely feel a bit overwhelmed no matter what, but having these skills down will infinitely decrease your stress.

Originally published at jillcharpia.info on January 12, 2018.