How To Level Up Your Construction Team With Effective Training

Training is a powerful investment for any organization, and for construction teams, it’s the key to developing the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed for success. In this blog, I’ll share some of the best practices and types of training that can truly elevate your team’s performance. Drawing from my own experiences, including my time at Hensel Phelps, I’ll provide insights into how you can structure and maximize training programs for lasting impact.

Why Training Matters in Construction

Throughout my career, I’ve seen the immense value of training firsthand. At Hensel Phelps, where I spent 14 years, training was embedded in the culture. Weekly team meetings were dedicated to coordinating training schedules, ensuring everyone—from field engineers to office staff—was continually learning. This wasn’t just a one-off effort; it was an ongoing commitment that boosted team morale, competence, and efficiency.

This approach isn’t unique to Hensel Phelps; it aligns with other high-stakes fields like the military. For example, Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, authors of Extreme Ownership, emphasize how military units train, plan, and prepare before executing missions. They approach each mission with a combination of simulation exercises, mock-ups, and contingency planning, allowing them to operate effectively in decentralized, high-pressure environments. This military mindset is a perfect fit for construction: if we train like we intend to perform, our teams can approach every project with clarity, confidence, and resilience.

Building a Skill Set, Brick by Brick

In construction, specialized skills are essential. Over the years, I’ve trained in AutoCAD, Revit, Navisworks, P6, and Microsoft Project. I learned field layout, control techniques, and construction scheduling, among others. These skills, developed methodically through various training programs, have enabled me to perform across many roles, from field engineer to project management. I encourage every company and every team to invest in skill-building. It’s a pathway to creating well-rounded professionals who can handle diverse challenges on the job.

How to Implement Effective Training in Your Organization

To help you get started with setting up or enhancing your training programs, here are a few tips:

1. Field Engineering Training Programs
   The best construction companies offer comprehensive field engineering programs that cover the essentials, like quality, safety, and lift drawings. Resources like Construction Surveying and Layout by Wesley Crawford provide a solid foundation for field engineering. Additionally, consider implementing a Field Engineer Boot Camp to give new team members hands-on experience.
2. Role-Based Training and Scorecards
   Every organization should establish role-specific training that aligns with their operational systems. An organized approach, like creating a clear project delivery system and conducting training based on these principles, can simplify and standardize knowledge. Role-specific scorecards in a Learning Management System (LMS) can also track and reinforce training progress.
3. Safety, Quality, and Leadership Training
   Safety and quality training are non-negotiables, but don’t overlook diversity and leadership training. Programs like Echelon Front’s muster events offer powerful leadership lessons. These experiences help team members develop a more well-rounded understanding of what it means to lead on a construction site.
4. Learning Methodologies
   Implement “learn-teach-learn” methods to make training interactive. With this approach, team members learn material in a group, teach it to one another, and internalize knowledge through repetition. This method fosters a collaborative learning environment, making knowledge transfer more effective.
5. Leveraging External and Internal Resources
   Your training options are vast: in-house programs, external certifications, online courses, and industry events. I’ve invested thousands over the years in personal development, taking advantage of certifications and specialized courses. Companies should encourage and support employees in doing the same.

Final Thoughts

Training isn’t just an operational cost—it’s an investment in your people, your projects, and your profitability. If you prioritize and expand your training programs, you’ll see the benefits in productivity, quality, and employee satisfaction. Take time to evaluate where you can level up your training and leverage all available resources to give your team the best chance for success.