7 Most Important Traits of a Successful Construction Project Manager
It takes talent, trained skills, and experience to successfully manage a construction project. With so many moving parts to consider, it’s definitely not a job for just anyone. Here we discuss the 7 most important traits you’ll need for successful construction project management.
The construction market in the United States is worth 1,231 billion dollars. So if you’re looking at entering the construction market as your career, that’s a great choice.
One of the best jobs you can pick in this industry is a project manager. But it’s not for everyone. You’ll need to possess certain skills to truly succeed.
Here US Construction Trailers has compiled the 7 most important traits you’ll need to work in construction project management. Check them out!
1. Problem Solving Skills
Whenever you’re leading a project, you are going to encounter roadblocks and obstacles.
Things don’t always go as planned. Parts of the project take longer than expected. Materials don’t always show up on time.
In these moments, it’s crucial for the project manager to be able to problem solve effectively. You need to be able to look at the situation and make quick decisions to move forward in the best way possible.
Another part of being a construction project manager is being able to assess the situation to forecast upcoming issues. Doing this will help your team run more efficiently.
2. Delegation
As a leader, you can’t do everything yourself. That’s why you have a team. But all too often, project managers try to handle everything.
The reality is, however, that this won’t work. A successful manager will be able to delegate tasks to their team members.
A big part of this is identifying the skillsets of each of your employees. That way you can match tasks up with the people who will be best at getting them done.
A strong project manager will also be able to delegate leadership and mid-level managerial positions to the team members who are most qualified. Doing this will ensure continuity and accountability throughout the jobsite.
3. Monitoring Budgets and Costs
3. Monitoring Budgets and CostsAt the end of the day, it’s important to remember that you are working for a business. Everything you do should aim to improve the company’s bottom line.
That’s why one of the key traits of a good project manager is monitoring costs and budgets effectively.
As a project manager, you will be in charge of tracking all costs and will work with your company’s accountants to keep track of both direct and indirect costs. In some cases, you don’t have an accountant and will be in charge of tracking everything. It’s important for you to have a strong attention to detail.
The good news is that there are many software programs out there that you can use to track your costs and expenses. Look for a tool that lets you input expenses and change your budget.
It should also do all the calculations for you so you don’t have to sit and crunch numbers all day.
Also see if it integrates a DocuSign feature. This will make collecting signatures much easier because it can be done online.
Keep in mind, however, that your software will be worthless if you don’t input all your information and stick to it.
4. Planning is a Key Construction Project Management Skill
As a project manager, your job is to oversee the construction job from beginning to end. One of the most important parts of this is planning.
Design, pre-construction, and actual construction all require intense planning. The more you plan, the better, so keep this in mind as you go throughout your project management.
The best project managers start planning months before ground is broken. Throughout the process, it’s also important to revisit your plans so you can edit and change things as the process goes on.
As we talked about earlier, all kinds of issues can come up during the construction process. It’s important to have continuous planning sessions to update your projections.
Also keep in mind the importance of planning between all the involved parties. You’ll have plumbers, carpenters, people pouring the foundation, and interior designers.
As a construction project manager, you’ll be in charge of coordinating efforts between all of these groups.
5. Encourages Teamwork
Since you’re working with such a big and diverse team, one of your key roles as a project manager is to encourage teamwork between everyone involved.
This is because when there isn’t collaboration, projects fail. In fact, one study found that 86% of employees and executives cite lack of collaboration or ineffective communication for failures in the workplace.
You’ll want to make sure everyone on site is on the same page. In everything you do, be an example of collaboration. Never talk bad about other team members behind their back.
Your team members will see your example and be inspired to work well together. This will create a positive environment for all involved, making the entire experience better.
6. Ability to Prioritize
With so many moving parts, construction projects are incredibly complex. Because of all of the different groups and specialized workers, things can get complicated.
There will also be competing interests and priorities when you’re managing a construction job. However, as the leader of the project, you need to keep all of these different parts under control.
You should do everything you can to put things in the right order. Doing so will keep your project on track.
7. Great Communication
Last but not least, you need to communicate well. You should be able to get your point across to your team members effectively.
You also want to be a good listener. As the leader of the group, you’ll need to be there when people have questions, encounter issues on site, or want to talk to you about sensitive issues. Being a good listener will make these moments much easier.
More than anything, you’ll want to communicate clearly so that all of your team members are on the same page. That way, you won’t encounter delays based on unclear expectations.
Closing Thoughts
There you have it: 7 key traits of a successful construction project management leader. The truth of the matter, though, is that most people aren’t born with all of these traits. They need to work towards them!
For a quote on a mobile construction trailer, get in touch with our team today.
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