No matter what industry your business is in, the output of your staff can make or break your operations. After all, they do all the work. Without them, there is no product or service to offer.
For those in construction, here are some easy-to-follow tips on how you can improve productivity and efficiency on-site:
10 Easy Ways to Increase Productivity On-Site
1. Be realistic with the goals.
Anyone who has ever worked in the construction industry knows that things will take time to build and finish. Of course, this is not an excuse to slack around and work lackadaisically.
This is why setting realistic goals are important. It helps keep everyone on track and on schedule. Make sure you communicate to the crew the daily, weekly, and monthly goals so they are aware of their progress.
2. Communicate clearly.
Speaking of communication, learn how to communicate with your workers properly and efficiently. Touch base with them and with their progress constantly. Make sure everyone understands each one’s responsibility. If any concern needs to be addressed, find a solution to them immediately in a firm yet respectful manner.
3. Always give them a vision of the end.
Without vision, people cast off restraint. Having the end goal in mind and always being reminded of it will help motivate people to work harder in achieving it. It is especially helpful once they see how close they are to reaching the goal.
4. Train your people well.
If you want to boost efficiency and productivity on-site, make sure everybody was trained well. Proper training will help orient everyone with the task at hand along with their own responsibilities. It also helps prevent any injuries and accidents on-site.
5. Give credit where credit is due.
If you see your people are doing well and are giving it their best, make sure to take some time to appreciate them and let them know how awesome they’re doing. Of course, it won’t hurt if you also reward them from time to time. These small things help build their morale and keep them going.
6. Listen more.
One of the traits of a good leader is the ability to know when to talk and when to listen. Listening to your people and what they have to say helps you identify where they are in life and what their thoughts are on certain matters. It also helps to point out certain people with leadership qualities that you can raise up and entrust greater responsibilities.
7. Plan thoughtfully and purposefully.
Before the construction phase, a lot of planning and strategizing has taken place. It should not stop there. You should carefully map out daily, weekly, and monthly battle plans that will help increase productivity and speed up the process without compromising the quality of your work.
8. Keep track of your inventory.
Part of running a tight ship is keeping track of your inventory of materials. Whether you are fully stocked on granite or you need to purchase those excavator attachments for sale in Australia, it is important to be aware of your materials and equipment.
This will help you avoid any inconvenience of running short on supply and enable you to make the necessary purchases in advance.
9. Get a good manager.
Somebody once said that employees leave companies because of bad managers. In the same breath, it can also be said that employees stay with companies because of good management.
Make sure to get a manager that is firm, but reasonable. A leader that is fair and respectful will easily gain everyone’s respect, from construction workers to upper management.
10. Give your workers enough time to rest.
There is a difference between giving people work and running a slave ship. Working in the construction industry is not easy. It is physically draining, especially when you’re exposed to the elements for the whole day.
Giving your workers the appropriate amount of rest they need will not only benefit their health, but will also benefit your company as they report back to work rejuvenated and energized.
Improving the system means some changes have to be made. Some of the changes may be hard to implement but if you dive in and take the risk, the returns will be worth it.
