Hiring, onboarding and retaining committed workers? Networking for new business? Having the right equipment at the right time? Carefully considered reaches into new niches? Saying no to projects that won’t end well? Quality results? Clients who shout out how great it was to work with you? On the path to a growing and thriving construction company, every owner has at least one area of the business that can benefit from more focus. What’s yours?
Revving Up: A Checklist
If you really want to grow your business, but are feeling stuck, chances are good that some key area of effort needs your leadership attention. It stands to reason that you can’t just keep scrambling to get the same things done, the same way, and get different results right? At Construct Connect, Kendall Jones reminds us to embrace change, and observes: “Adaptability is one of the keys to success in the construction industry….Construction can be quite a volatile industry. If you are unwilling to make adjustments in your business to keep up with the changing trends you are setting yourself up for failure.” According to Jones, construction business owners eager to rev up the action should check how they’re doing related to key aspects of leadership, including these five:
- Build a great team….Your people are your business. Hire dependable, knowledgeable and skilled employees. Retain your best employees by promoting and rewarding them….
- Manage your business, but lead your people…..If you try and manage every aspect of your employees work they will think you have no confidence in their ability to make good decisions and properly do their jobs.
- Invest in your business.…This means buying new equipment and technology when needed, training your employees, and actively marketing your business.
- Be selective to be profitable. It’s not enough to just earn more business. When you take on more work it has to be profitable.
- Get the word out. Word of mouth remains the number one method most construction companies use to…earn more work. Encourage your best customers to tell others about the great work your company does.
Are You Effectively Communicating?
Whether we are busy, or stuck in a rut, we tend to overlook the obvious. For example, we may feel we’re talking to (or emailing) clients and workers all the time, but perhaps they’re not really hearing us–and maybe we are not really hearing them. Ineffective communication stymies businesses. Consider for example, how many times at the end of a challenging day, you bump into a relatively simple misunderstanding that is at the roots of cost overruns, project delays and dissatisfied employees and customers? Amp up your leadership skills by aiming for consistency and clarity in your communication practices. Start with these strategies for effective communication recommended by CIC Construction Group:
- Establish a Communication Chain of Command
To create accountability and eliminate confusion, it’s important to establish who’s in charge of what and who answers to whom. Setting up a communication chain of command allows that information to get to the right people in a timely manner.
- Choose the Right Communication Method for the Message
Communication comes in different shapes and forms, such as emails, drawings, photos, phone calls, orders, reports, construction management software, 3D models and more. Choosing the right method of communication can expedite and simplify the exchange of information. Sometimes a quick email is all that’s necessary while other instances may call for a meeting.
- Hold Regular Meetings
Daily briefings, weekly updates and monthly reports help all teams stay aligned, informed and engaged. Meetings help management and workers to stay on the same page regarding planned and ongoing projects, expectations and courses of action and to clearly understand their roles and responsibilities.
Let Us Help Get You Growing
Colonial Surety Company helps construction company owners all along the path to growth. Our Hometown Bond Program helps local builders get credit based underwriting bonds for up to $250k—no financial statements required.
Growing from there, construction business owners can get in on more action by qualifying for The Partnership Account® for Contractors. Once qualified, you’ll use our power of attorney to issue your own bid bonds, in minutes. Order performance bonds with speed and ease too. Plus, you’ll bid and win more than ever as you leverage your:
- surety line of credit—in writing;
- private digital dashboard;
- daily snapshot of single and aggregate limits
- ability to update work on hand
Surety Bond programs for construction businesses of every size are right here: Bonding Programs at Colonial Surety Company
Founded in 1930, Colonial Surety Company is a leading direct seller and writer of surety bonds and insurance products across the USA. Colonial is rated “A Excellent” by A.M. Best Company and U.S. Treasury listed. Let’s connect today: Colonial Surety Company.