Developing Leadership Skills in the Construction Industry
The construction industry is one of the many risky and costly sectors on a global scale. Besides, it generally involves long time frames and is known for being technically demanding. In every project, a list of construction professionals and building contractors are always involved. That is why it is crucial to use builder trends software for much better team collaboration and increased work productivity.
Stepping into a demanding role such as a project manager ultimately means that you have to be more than ready to take all of the heavy responsibilities, including handling projects and the team. You have to set up some goals for you and your team to grow — individually and as a group. Using construction scheduling software, positive working relationships and strong team collaboration are best achieved. Project managers like you will always have brilliant ways to create a compliant and safe work environment for all employees using this advanced software tool.
For this article, we will take a detailed look at several leadership skills required for the construction management, including how a project manager can further establish these skills and start building it as your best skill set.
3 Leadership Styles Every Project Manager Must Have
Both leadership skills and management skills are crucial in the construction industry. Being an excellent leader requires someone to possess high-level soft skills — this type of skill is entirely different from technical skills since it is easier to define and measure. Soft skills generally refer to the employee’s qualities and character traits. It is believed that these abstract skills are a massive help for any leader or project manager to succeed. Another thing that also largely helps the project managers or leaders handle projects is the application of a task scheduler software. This tool is mainly used for scheduling and organizing purposes.
In the construction industry, the high-level soft skills will help the project manager in:
· Motivating and guiding team members
· Encouraging the team to work hard and achieve shared goals
· Influencing ideas and good behavior to the team
· Resolve and foresee any issues and problems existing within the team
· Build a profitable strategic direction
Furthermore, the following are the 3 types of leadership styles that produce promising positive effects.
1. Coaching Leadership
Coaches build their respective teams and other professionals who are involved. This type of leadership style focuses on long-term growth for each team member. Project managers who often apply this leadership style should look for other opportunities and ways to inform new knowledge and teach new skills. New and advanced strategies like construction crew management, must also be implemented. Understanding that the long-term success has come from establishing abilities, skills and knowledge of the crew is very important for this leadership style.
2. Pacesetting Leadership
Pacesetters have a different way of handling things on the construction site. They often set the pace for respective teams and groups where they are currently assigned. A responsible leader known as the pacesetter should need to establish the necessary standards and display the behaviors they want to expect for every participating crew member. They are also expected to use a crew schedule software for a much efficient project and crew management.
3. Servant Leadership
Most servant leaders tend to look for many opportunities that allow them to meet every team member’s needs. Project managers who often follow this type of leadership are looking for easy ways to remove impediments further. Removing existing conditions is increasingly creating greater chances for success and achieved goals.
In addition, using a builder trends software, there is also an excellent opportunity to make the project a huge success. This software application is designed to make the work easier and more manageable amidst the increasing pressure and high expectations. While many different leadership styles positively impact overall performance, there are also leadership styles that have adverse effects during onsite operations. Take a look below.
1. Command/Control Leadership
The majority of workers who have been working on the site have been running into foremen or superintendents who are micro-managing operations. These are the people who have been acting like a demanding dictator. If this situation has been going on, it produces a negative impact on the members. The crew is usually controlled and dictated with intense pressure and no one deserved to be treated like that. Control and command leadership should be used only for limited times, especially when it is necessary.
The best way to easily control the crew is through the use of construction scheduling software. This software is designed and built to monitor the crew more efficiently. There will be lesser control when using this type of software.
2. Laissez-Faire Leadership
This type of leadership is usually defined as an attitude or policy of letting things take their own course without any interferers. For example, construction projects refer to the work’s entire scope and the intended deadline for its delivery. To be clear, letting things take on its course can ultimately result in non-adherence to specifications, missed deadlines, and unsafe work practices.
3. Charismatic Leadership
Leaders who prefer to showcase their personality or charisma are not fitting for the position. It is crucial to remain professional while working with the team and other third-parties involved. The crew is not usually motivated in that kind of personality. They are more likely to become more motivated by the project managers who are goal-setter, hardworking and considerate.
Management vs. Leadership
Management skills and leadership skills are considered as an integral part of any construction project. However, there are fundamental distinctions between the two and project managers must take note of it. Wise project managers make short-term plans, set clear goals, solve practical problems and act ethically in a supportive manner. These leaders are very excellent ay directing operations, supervising the team and keeping positive scores.
Where you stand
To improve your recently acquired leadership skills, you need to consider all your habits. Make sure also to seek out clear opportunities for positive changes proactively. For instance, try to think about the recent time you have implemented a new sales strategy and marketing. If it has been so long already, it is wise enough to step away and start honing your leadership skills.
A culture of leadership
Paying and seeking attention to all good ideas within the company is ultimately one mark of becoming a good leader. It not only sparks positive changes but also signals the team that you have valued and recognized all of their contributions. However, don’t stop there because there are many things to learn in the present and upcoming situations. Ensure to consistently establish a task force in order to solve any existing issues effectively.
Furthermore, being a leader and manager at the same time is considered as a viable concept. However, it is good to pinpoint the distinctions. Take a look below.
1. A leader innovates or invents while the manager organizes
The prominent leader of a particular team has always come up with new knowledge and ideas. This professional kick starts the organization’s major shift to a cutting-edge phase. A leader consistently set his eyes on the horizon, continuously establishing new strategies and techniques for the organization. A good leader has a vast knowledge of all current advancements and construction trends like the crew schedule software. The clarity of their vision and purpose is what drives them to work harder and smarter.
On the other hand, the manager often observes the bottom line while controlling the project’s workflow and the participating crew members.
2. A manager has a reliance on control, whereas the leader encourages trust
A great leader has the strength to push crew members much harder to perform their very best. They know how to set a tempo and appropriate pace with the rest of the team. On the other hand, these managers are often required to build control over the employees. In return, this has helped them develop all of their assets to bring out their very best further. It is the job of a project manager to widely understand all of their subordinates to execute their performance and work more effectively.
3. A leader typically asks usual questions like “what” and “why” while a manager is often leaning more to questions like “how” and “when”
In order to do justice towards their respective roles, a leader is usually thrown some questions that challenged them in modifying or reversing decisions that aren’t the team’s best interests. Excellent leadership often requires a very great deal of judgment, particularly in standing up and raising concerns. When the team or the company is having a very rough patch while moving forward, a leader will always be the one who’ll ask this question — “What have we learned from this?”
The managers, however, aren’t required to analyze or assess any failures. Their respective job description only emphasizes the basic ones. Questions “how” and “when” usually help them ensure that the plans are properly executed.
Key Takeaways
No matter what type of industry you’re involved in, being a good project manager is something that should be continuously developed and improved upon. Nowadays, numerous professional training and development resources will ultimately help you develop project management and leadership skills.
