Construction teams are a key asset for productivity and quality of a construction project. Explore how clear communications can set a construction project for success
Trust is crucial in creating relationships and working as a team collaboratively. In a construction team, trust needs transparency amongst all team members. It is about being open, honest, and clear in all your interactions. With trust and transparency, you can build a team that works as a single unit, a team that is highly productive, efficient, and organised for success.
A Construction team Set for success
Communication is the most effective way to build trust and establish a culture of transparency. Workplace transparency eliminates confusion, builds trust between consultants, contractors and client, and encourages a healthy work environment. Crystal clear and actual real-time chats and conversations build teams and eventually progress construction projects.
Today, construction in India is below par. Fragmentation can be seen in the industry in the form of communication delays, absence of optimum project management and limited access to professionals. One of the reasons is the outdated communication practices amongst construction teams.
“Poor discussions and dialogues make construction teams lose trust in each other. Moreover, misled or delayed conversations escalate losses of time and funds for everyone. Eventually, the builder, owner, team of consultants, subcontractors, labour and the project stagnates. As the construction industry expands, it is our initiative to introduce construction communication as a culture – starting from the concept stage, to onboarding of skilled professionals and also resolving construction site issues.”
Siddharth Gupta, Founder, India Nirmaan
Communication in construction projects involves sharing ideas and opinions between individuals or teams, while aiming for the same goals and expectations.
This is especially true for collaborations. They are dynamic relationships wherein people pool their synergy, resources, and knowledge. A successful partnership works only when the teams frequently interact, discuss, update, and convey all the necessary information on time and correctly. Workplace transparency creates openness and builds trust between teams. Good communication provides the foundation for a great collaboration.
Common pitfalls due to poor communication
Silence or misled conversations result in delays or escalated losses for everyone. Poor discussions and dialogues make people involved in the project lose trust in each other. Lack of understanding between stakeholders can cause conflict and disputes creating a hostile workplace atmosphere. The builder, owner, team of consultants, subcontractors, and labour endure the brunt.
Leaders have to spend too much time and energy clearing all the miscommunications, misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and misconceptions happening in the project. Poor communication between construction teams is the main reason for significant project delays. Time spent on looking for information, fixing mistakes, and reworking costs a project dearly in terms of labor, material, delays, and quality. Cost overrun is the most critical of all the perils of miscommunication.
Problems and gaps occur when people stop communicating with one another, thereby hampering the smooth flow of a construction project. It is time to improve this lag with intentional steps to improve communication in construction projects and the industry.
When construction teams collaborate and communicate effectively, projects tend to run smoother and be completed on time and within budget. Real-time communication is always preferable when it comes to keeping every person involved in the loop. If all teams are on the same page, construction organisations can often avoid mistakes.
Tips for effective communication in construction teams
Recognize everyone’s role
Determine a clear line of communication and decide who gets what information. Identify the point of contact and pass on the correct information to the right people in a timely manner. While passing on relevant information, protecting any information that might create confusion and disrupt progress is also essential. Recognize everyone’s role during the initial stages in the construction team as every thought and opinion counts and improves future decisions.
Dedicated channel to connect
Communication between construction teams can be verbal, non-verbal, written, or just hand signals. Exchange of daily reports, photos, requests for information (RFIs), and change orders are happening in person, via phone, email, or message. A quick email to share a change or a meeting to discuss the budget plans of the construction project.
Opt for channels that expedite the process and simplify the exchange of information. Establish a preferred mode of communication between teams from the beginning, so each message is received and acted upon promptly.
Listen to resolve
Communication is a two-way process. Be an active listener and concentrate on absorbing the speaker’s point of view when you are engaging through verbal communication. Ask for information and clarifications, if needed, to resolve the impending situation, issue or crisis. The exchange of correct and clear information is paramount between construction teams.
Be crisp and clear
Ideally, every effort should be agenda-based to share crisp and clear, easy-to-understand messages. The communication is focused, short, simple and in the language understood by the intended receiver. Avoid using jargon or longwinded sentences, as it negates communication effectiveness. Break long running sentences into shorter ones or bullet points. Be brief but comprehensive enough to include all the relevant information.
Note the facts
Listen attentively to the speaker. Absorb and understand the information. Maybe jot down important points and note details you may want to clarify. Accuracy in communication is essential. Missing or wrong interpretation of small detail can sometimes escalate into a full-blown crisis or conflict amid construction teams.
Don’t assume or expect the listener to know every technicality. Explain a bit if needed. The objective is to communicate and get the point across so everyone has a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
Choose to be a professional
Having respect and regard for everyone’s craft in collaboration is vital. Honest, authentic, and open communication between teams results in productive and progressive discussions. Maintain your calm and composure even during disagreements and conflicts. Always keep respectful mannerisms and consistent voice tone. Wrong body language and tone can negatively impact communication. Avoid using foul language or your emotions to come in the way of a healthy conversation.
Good communication habits are the path to trust
Managing construction teams comes with challenges – one of the most significant is establishing trust and the other is communicating with transparency. Transparency and trust in the workplace benefit both employers and employees. Being transparent in your workings with established communication formats ensures smooth project flow from start to completion. It can help improve morale, reduce stress related to job performance, increase employee happiness and boost productivity. With intentional steps to leverage digital technology for better communications across construction teams, the projects and the industry can achieve higher success rates. Now, that is a fantastic bunch of reasons to connect and converse with peers – don’t you agree?
