428: Managing Field Workers Effectively In Your Construction Business

This Podcast Is Episode Number 428, And It's About Managing Field Workers Effectively In Your Construction Business

The construction manager is conditioned to avoid emergencies by being proactive. It is necessary to have systems in place to deal with emergencies when they arise. After the crisis has passed, the effective project manager evaluates the root cause of the trouble and implements change in the system to avoid a repeat performance.

It’s also one thing to manage workers when they’re all in the same place at the same time. However, when you run a construction business with field workers, things can get a lot more challenging. Not only are you typically not on the same job site as them, but you might also have workers scattered over a variety of sites and projects. 

Managing them doesn’t just mean scheduling them and making sure they’re progressing on the project, but also knowing how to shift people and equipment between sites to boost productivity.

Here are three things you can do to manage field workers in your construction business effectively.

One of the most challenging parts of having field workers is when people don’t know their expectations. They might understand what their job is—and be perfectly capable of carrying it out—but less clear on their level of autonomy.

For example, under what circumstances do they need to consult you versus making executive decisions on their own? Is there someone on each job site who acts as team lead, or are they all given the same level of authority? Who is the superintendent, if there is one? How frequently should they communicate with you about progress, and what information do you need? What are the milestones they need to meet, and when do they need to meet them? What are your responsibilities to the workers on the job site?

Giving your field workers a clear idea of your expectations makes it easier for them to react to situations at the moment, rather than wondering if they need to contact you. It also provides them with a framework for carrying out their duties. Finally, it reassures them that there are expectations of you that you’ll meet as well, such as ensuring they have the right tools for their jobs.

Many construction companies still use manual processes, such as telephone calls, to share information. These manual processes require you to review large volumes of paperwork and take up a lot of your time to keep up-to-date on what’s going on. With multiple job sites, the task can become unmanageable.

These days, various technologies and platforms can share information and communicate with field workers. You can send tasks to field workers, ask them to capture data, and share virtual paperwork in real-time.

The information is shared much more quickly and efficiently and reduces the risk of missing paperwork and other errors. It also provides you with a complete audit trail, so you have proof of your construction company’s activities if there are ever any questions.

One of the best things you can do to manage field workers is to ensure they all know they are part of the team and feel appreciated by you. This means being clear in your expectations but also allowing them to offer feedback. Find out how you can support them. Provide group activities where the different teams are brought together to interact with each other and get to know one another.

Visit the job sites. You may sometimes have to check in to evaluate how things are going, but drop in periodically to check in with them without being there to review their performance. Ask what’s going well and what could use improvement. Listen to your field workers and if their suggestions are reasonable, consider implementing them. After all, they’re the ones in the field.

Final thoughts

As the head of your business, or if you are the construction manager, understand that a crucial part of what you do is to remove obstacles and temptations that keep your employers from peak performance, run interference for them when they mess up, and make sure they get recognition and credit when the project goes well. 

Managing field workers can be complicated, especially if you have numerous teams at different locations. Being clear about your expectations, using the right tools, and engaging your workers will help you more effectively manage them.

About The Author:

Sharie DeHart, QPA is the co-founder of Business Consulting And Accounting in Lynnwood, Washington. She is the leading expert in managing outsourced construction bookkeeping and accounting services companies and cash management accounting for small construction companies across the USA. She encourages Contractors and Construction Company Owners to stay current on their tax obligations and offers insights on how to manage the remaining cash flow to operate and grow their construction company sales and profits so they can put more money in the bank. Call 1-800-361-1770 or sharie@fasteasyaccounting.com