The Shocking Truth About Construction Project Management

You need to know this: in this blog, I’m going to discuss what’s missing in construction collaboration and integration. We’re going to find out if win-lose situations really work. If not, how do we maximize the team that we’re a part of and truly take care of each group? If you’re interested in that, stay with us. We’re going to cover that right now. 

The Secret About Construction Project Management

Very few people know this, no matter how good they are at construction or how effective they are. We only win together. You can see this at every level—from construction companies to departments, from functional groups to project teams, and even among foremen and workers. We only win together.

The Flaws of the Win/Lose Concept

There’s this concept of win-lose, and I absolutely hate it. Think about it: let’s say you’re on your project site with various trade partners, some of whom are excellent while others are not performing well. If you decide to focus on the top performers and bully the underperformers out, you create a toxic environment. On every project, if you have a mix of high and low performers, the overall productivity will suffer because everyone is interdependent.

For instance, a top-notch foreman and his crew might be well-prepared, always on time, and following all the rules. However, if they’re constantly hindered by underperforming contractors causing delays and safety issues, their productivity will plummet. It’s not necessarily the fault of the underperforming contractors—they need support to rise to the occasion. If everyone isn’t performing at their best, the entire project suffers.

The Pace of the Slowest Trade

No matter how fast or good your best trades are, your job is only as fast as your slowest or most ineffective trade. Imagine driving an awesome Tesla on the freeway, only to get stuck in a traffic jam. You’re not going any faster than the bottleneck. Similarly, in construction, your project progresses at the pace of its slowest element. To improve, we need to stop toxic competition and work together.

Examples of Win-Win Scenarios

Here’s a practical example: if you benefit from this blog and decide to share it or engage with it, it helps spread the message and creates a win-win situation. Conversely, if you take the information but don’t engage, it hampers our ability to share more valuable content in the future, leading to a lose-lose scenario.

Important Reminders for Owners in Construction

Owners, your project will only finish on time if everyone—owner’s reps, designers, contractors, and trades—wins together. This is a historical fact. You must create an environment where everyone can succeed, or it will drag down your project.

Supporting and Enabling Designers

Typically, we criticize designers for incomplete drawings and constant changes. Instead, we should understand their perspective and support them. As builders, enable their design process, constructability reviews, and budget updates. Work together with early design assist trade partners and foster a collaborative environment.

Creating a Winning Environment for All Trades

On your construction project, all trade partners must be winning. This means creating a stable, clean, safe, and organized environment. Level all trades to go the same speed and distance, using real-time data to ensure everyone improves. Command and control the environment—not the people—to foster a culture where everyone can thrive.

Unifying Internal Teams

Internally, you can’t have silos and disconnection. You win as an individual and as a team only when everyone is winning. Construction companies, departments, and project teams must work healthily together. The secret is simple: we only win when we win together.

The First Step to Winning Together

Human nature tends to make us act individually, but the first step in any project is always to build the team. Always connect, always leverage collective wisdom, and always aim to be better together.