Back to Basics: Construction Management Essentials for Your Team

04/30, 2024 - Sohini

A reliable construction project manager is crucial to managing successful construction projects. This comes with its own set of challenges and requires expertise and skills. Explore the roles and responsibilities of the construction project manager and discuss the skills to navigate the challenges effectively. If you are an aspiring individual who wants to seek construction continuing education courses, this blog is for you.

What are the construction management essentials for your team?

Here is a description of the construction management essentials for your team:

  1. Daily logs: Daily logs are objective records of day-to-day activities that highlight the weather event. Additionally, it tracks and time-stamps supplies and subcontractors as they come and go.

  2. RFIs: Building professionals depend on employees to write RFIs professionally and in a way that will provide the best response possible. Little training is required in the industry on RFOs.

  3. Commitments: Specialty contractors offer most of the labor and material on a job site. Vendors, subcontractors, and material suppliers have contractual agreements or commitments.

  4. Budget: A precise budget is essential for any successful construction project.

  5. Submittals: A submittal is what goes to buildable design from being just a ‘design’. It is crucial to effectively manage the submittal process for new construction managers.

Read More: Benefits of CPR certification for construction workers

What is the role of a construction project manager?

Monitoring day-to-day activities ensures that the project is finished on time. Beyond monitoring a project, the responsibilities of a construction project manager include reporting the progress on a daily basis to the client and other stakeholders.

What are the qualities that make a good construction project manager?

Here are the primary skills that a good construction project manager must have:

  1. Industry knowledge: The construction sector is a dynamic one, with advanced techniques being developed daily. All the leading project managers can manage a construction project while being aware of the innovative strategies and methodologies they can leverage to reach their goals. This is when the construction project manager comes in and seeks industry knowledge. This helps them stay updated and improve their skills.

  2. Flexible planning: Things often fail to go as planned. It is crucial for project managers to adapt to changes and plan well for the future. They need to have a strong grasp of the project and foresight for development, which may affect the timeline. The ideal manager knows that planning is a never-ending process in the pre-construction phase.They must continue revising and developing plans until the end of a project.

  3. Communication: A construction project involves various stakeholders, including clients and outsourced suppliers. It is the responsibility of all parties concerned to ensure that the project sails smoothly. From back office functions to securing appropriate paperwork, it is everyone’s responsibility to update and work efficiently. Miscommunication is harmful and can lead to construction mishaps. Hence, as a construction project manager, you must possess great skills to express yourself and manage construction projects .

  4. Manage risks: A mishap can happen at any time. There is an inherent potential for changes to occur from the initial plan. Hence, risk management is crucial for project managers. The manager must determine the risks and plan a project.

  5. Negotiation: Negotiation is a crucial aspect of a construction manager’s task. It involves a lot of negotiation, especially in matters related to allocating budgets, changing orders, etc. They must be trained and well equipped to negotiate, say no to unfeasible expectations, and disagree with explanations.

  6. Financial management: A construction project needs a budget plan. It is one of the biggest responsibilities to manage finances well. A small change in the budget can exceed the budget of a project. They must track project spending and make forecasts while exploring other opportunities for financing.

  7. Avoid micromanagement: Micromanagement is not acceptable, especially in an industry where the projects are complex and large. It is the duty of the project managers to trust their colleagues and keep up with updated technological trends. This is why construction project managers often look for the latest advancements to encourage collaboration and improve success rates. 

  8. Openness to feedback: Project managers must have industry knowledge and extensive experience in management. It is crucial to be open to feedback, not only from clients but from those around them.

Read More: Staying Compliant and Safe in Construction Industry: Role of Life-Saving Certifications

Conclusion

Construction continuing education gives you the expertise and experience you need to move into leadership roles. Osha 30 construction management deals with the planning, coordination, and control of a project from inception to completion. Seek a course online and oversee the phases of a project with expertise. After completing this contractor continuing education classes, you will learn significant skills to stay relevant and ahead of the curve.