If you are new to project management, your counterpart construction project managers may tell you that managing a construction project is energy-consuming, exhausting and a complex process. However, after having worked on several projects and having the talent for it, good planning, combined with current technologies, can make your work easier and speed up your workflow.
Successful project management means you will be able to complete the project within budget and on time. To learn how you can be a successful project manager, here are some strategies you need to implement in your project management work:
1. Enjoy real-time communication
Construction projects tend to have many parties involved, such as lead contractors, project owners, subcontractors, architects, suppliers, and administrative personnel, all of whom need to be kept up to date as the project progresses. You need to establish a continuous flow of communication between project stakeholders. Transparent communication ensures the project runs smoothly and reduces the number of phone calls and emails.
You can have efficient communication by implementing a centralized communication system. This helps you sync documents, photos, and calendars in one place. From there, you can monitor costs, updates, and changes whenever they occur. Centralized communication offers ease of access to project information.
All changes made must be communicated instantly through automated actions, instant alerts, and visual dashboards. You can choose to reduce paperwork by faxing online and sending the information to email addresses.
2. Have the right team in place
Once all the details to start the project have been finalized, you will need to assemble a capable project team. For each task, assign individuals who have the right talents, skills, and personalities. Each person must be well informed about what is expected of them and the results needed at the end of the project.
As a project manager, you must promote positive work dynamics and be a coach for all members of your team. Once you have the right set of individuals, keep them motivated and inspired whether things are going well or there are challenges. You need to employ your leadership skills to deal with the challenges the project faces.
3. Manage your time well
Every day, prioritize activities that need to be done immediately over those that can be done later. You should avoid busying yourself with things that are not urgent at the moment. Along the same lines, not every email you receive needs to be responded to immediately.
Managing time wisely may require you to delegate some tasks to others on your team. With the right workforce on your team, you don't have to micromanage every little thing. You just need to get constant feedback and trust the people you delegate to make decisions and perform their roles.
4. Reevaluate techniques
Every project manager wants to finish their project within budget, on time, and according to plan. Regardless of how well the project is going, you should be able to evaluate your plan and the project. There could be oversight of a better strategy to manage the project or resolve a potential issue. Therefore, it is necessary to have a critical eye to identify certain areas of the project that can be improved. Get feedback on each phase and talk to your team to see possible areas for improvement.
5. Schedule and plan
Your ability to deliver subsequent projects depends on how well you learn to plan and schedule. Make sure all resources needed to execute your plan are available to complete the project on time. Each stage of the project needs materials, equipment, labor and tools. It is your responsibility to ensure everything is available to your employees. In your planning, set achievable goals at project milestones.
Your plan can be adjustable whenever something comes up that disrupts the normal plan and schedule. Your plan must be relatively fixed to keep the project on schedule while also being able to adjust to accommodate unexpected circumstances so the project can move forward.
6. Maintain proper documentation
Project documentation from the beginning needs to be implemented, regularly updated, and easy to follow. Whenever a milestone is completed, the stakeholders involved must sign the documents before filing them. Having a document management system can help you keep track of all documents and ensure that no documents are lost.
Having an elaborate project management does not mean that the project will be completed within the proposed budget and on time. Therefore, it is necessary to keep all project documents to be presented to stakeholders so that they can accommodate unforeseen eventualities.
If such situations arise, with the supporting documents audited, you can avoid possible conflicts, project delays or legal issues.
7. Know the Terms and Conditions
After winning the contract, read the contract document carefully and understand it well before signing and starting the project. This is the binding document that guarantees that the contractor and the client comply with their respective contractual obligations and that the project is within the scope and specifications of the work. The better you are aware of the terms and conditions, the better you can handle conflicts that are outside the scope of the contract.
8. Have good negotiation skills
To enter the field of project management, you need to sharpen your negotiation skills. You need to know how to convince suppliers, subcontractors, customers and the rest of the project team. You need to make everyone understand that your idea is the best with measurable facts.
9. Prioritize employee safety
The safety of your workers is critical as much as you want to make a good fortune from the construction project. Avoid taking shortcuts, check installed supports and use recommended construction equipment, as carelessness and negligence can cause serious harm to your employees or bystanders, resulting in legal action.
Conclusion
Construction project management is a process that requires good planning and scheduling to ensure your project is delivered on time. Document every step of your work, keep all stakeholders informed, and facilitate excellent collaboration within your team.
