The Softer Side of Tough

The construction industry has been built with calloused hands and sore backs. Needless to say, the tireless efforts of those that paved the way to industrial fortune didn’t leave much time or tolerance for feelings or small talk.  The truth is that for quite some time, it simply wasn’t needed. For years the industry was forging new territory. The teams that put their heads down and pushed forward won the prize. While this was a proven recipe in the early years, it no longer guarantees success as it once did.

Now don’t misunderstand me, I’m not downplaying the value of the calloused hands. I have my own and have great respect for others that do. Unfortunately for the current employer, the labor pool is diluted and experienced craftsmen are harder to find, much less retain. We’re not replacing the experienced men and women of our industry quickly enough, because experience takes time and time costs money. The companies that are truly winning in today’s marketplace are finding that there are additional traits proving to be worthwhile to look for when assessing individuals for leadership roles. These traits are often referred to as “soft skills”, although in today’s world they may be necessary “career skills”.

The top Five that come to mind are Communication, Leadership, Adaptability, Conflict Resolution, & Diligence.

These are the traits that if possessed by a supervisor, in addition to technical skill, will increase their value to an employer, and to their team, exponentially. These Soft Skills play a different role in Construction than their technical counterpart. When a leader possesses a solid technical knowledge, it merely ensures that they know how to carry out their task effectively on their own. Unfortunately, without possessing the necessary soft skills they fall short in ensuring that the team is capable of carrying out the task at hand. In other words these softer skills can carry us down the path from individual success, to team success, to project success!

Communication: To say that Communication is a buzz-word in any industry would be an understatement. It tops the list of any companies list of necessary skills when recruiting new talent and deservedly so. If a Construction Manager cannot properly communicate the scope and expectations of a project to the team, the project will most definitely stumble out of the gate.

Clarity in communication is key. Clear and concise Communication has the following effects:

• Nurtures a safe environment – Our projects have many moving parts….heavy, dangerous, moving parts. With so many tasks taking place simultaneously on limited real estate, accurate and consistent communication is the only way to ensure our teams go home every day to their families.
• Bridges the Generational Skill Gap – Nearly every industry and marketplace is suffering from the same condition. Whether it was war, or diversification of the marketplace that caused it, we have a significant age gap between the highly experienced and the newer individuals in our industry. Technology and competition have accelerated individuals in their careers without the hours in the field. Our projects have become so competitive that we cannot simply sit around and wait for a generation to gain that experience. It is necessary for craftsmen to gain much of that experience from others. Supervisors that can effectively transfer their knowledge to others through communication will gain an edge and help their employer do so as well.
• Retains the best of the talent – this may be the single most overlooked aspect of communication. It is impossible to measure the effect that short conversations have on our teams in the field. So many potential rockstars leave companies because they never felt they were “part of the team”. This feeling of being kept in the dark leads imaginations to run wild. Make it a priority to let your team know what is going on with their project and with the company they are working for. Being included in simple conversation builds the image of the team that they hunger to be part of.
• Sets up the Team and Project for Success – Properly communicating the expectations of an individual or team’s role allows them to set their eyes on the prize. The easiest way to move forward is to be focused in that direction. Layout expectations and set goals that can be attained. When these goals are met, acknowledge them. When they are not, coach the team so that they will succeed next time.

Leadership: This trait or skill is naturally the next to discuss. Leadership cannot be attained without communication. Leadership in its essence is the ability to inspire and equip others to follow you to a destination. It is also the ability to govern when necessary. This proves difficult if they are not 100% on board with you as their leader.

Here are four traits of any great leader.

• Active Listener – Any great leader listens before they speak. Get to know your teams concerns, personalities, and aspirations. Understanding more about them as people will help you better lead them as team members.
• Cool Under Pressure – Don’t overreact. In the face of adversity, it is imperative that your team believes you have it under control. They are after all trusting you to steer the ship they are on.
• Reflect the Company’s Character – Successful leaders find ways to transfer the vision and values of the organization to the teams in the field. When an entire organization has a unified set of beliefs they can achieve much more than being divided. This common vision is what fuels momentum.
• Teacher – A confident leader is not scared to coach their future replacement. For a team to reach its fullest potential, there cannot be insecurities about individuals under your influence advancing. Give great effort towards educating those around you. Their success is your success.

Adaptability: There are so many different ways to describe this trait. Some call it problem solving and others call it critical thinking. Regardless of the terminology, the fact is that the leaders who continue to succeed learn to be quick on their feet. They are presented with problems on a daily basis and learn how to alter the course of a project to avoid a collision.

When it comes to Adaptability, there are few things to remember:

• Don’t Panic – No matter what the scenario is, there is always enough time to take a deep breath and gather your thoughts.
• Lessons Learned are the Best Lessons – Taking notes and learning from the mistakes of our past projects teaches us to better recognize the indicators of an approaching problem.
•  Be Flexible – Even the best plans go awry at times. Don’t be so rigid that you refuse to change in the face of failure. Look for different options and be willing to try them.
• Seek Counsel – Probably the most important of all. When faced with difficult situations on a project or life in general, seek the wise counsel of individuals that have a proven track record of success.

Conflict Resolution: Conflict is inevitable. Not everyone sees scenarios the same way. A tropical paradise to one is a mosquito infested hell to another. Learning to manage the situation and capture the potential that lies inside of conflict and bring it to the surface without wrecking the team is a trait that all manager need to grow.

Try to use these tactics when the next conflict arises on one of your projects:

• Listen – It may sound simple but it is the most overlooked aspect of settling conflict. Listen to what the parties are saying and try to understand what their interest in the situation is. Why are they passionate about their position in the argument? If you can understand what is the motivation behind the conflict you are more likely to arrive at a positive outcome.
• Respect – We always have the right to disagree, but never the right to disrespect. Try to foster a true interest in other people’s opinions. Remember that most of the great advancements of our time were the idea of someone other than you.
• Explore Options – Keep in mind that the best idea could be a hybrid of two opposing sides. Before stonewalling an idea, make sure that the differing sides of the argument don’t in fact complement one another.
• Follow Through – Once a resolution is reached, support it wholeheartedly and require that those on the team do the same. “I told you so” is not constructive if in fact an idea fails.
• Save the Relationship – regardless of the temperature in the room, remember that the relationship is more important than being right. If team members, or worse yet, customers leave every conflict damaged, they will cease to bring ideas to the table.

Diligence: This trait unfortunately is probably the most failed at of all the soft skills. In my own experience, greater than 50% of all terminations are a result of absenteeism. Simply showing up day in and day out separates you from the pack. Although attendance is a big factor to being diligent, it goes much further than that. To truly succeed as a leader you must show up in the same manner each and every day.

Here are four areas in which to practice diligence that will pay large dividends in your career:

• Attendance – Don’t miss work. It sounds simple but takes some effort. Plan ahead for kids fields trips, have sitters arranged for sick children or unexpected school closures. Take proper care of yourself so that you’re not sickly. Also, go out of your way to be aware of obstacles along your daily route to work. Road construction and the like is not an acceptable excuse for tardiness.
• Demeanor – This one takes a consistent effort. Practice walking into the office or onto the job site with a consistent steady manner. Your team will take comfort in knowing that following their leader will not result in increased anxiety.
• Education – Read, read, and read some more. Stay in tune with your industry by reading articles and studying technical reports. Read leadership books to keep these principles in the forefront of your mind. If your desire is to coach those around you, you must put good information in to be able to draw on it.
• Handshakes – I know this sounds silly, but make sure that in your advancements through your career that you never quit going to the “field” and shaking the hands of the men and women that get the job done. This ground level face time builds trust, but also keeps leadership in tune with the health of the team. It is amazing how much you can learn with just a few minutes of real human contact.

In our efforts to build the perfect resume, team or company, let’s make sure we are paying attention to the development of these vital skills. I believe the efforts will prove themselves worthwhile.