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You may be surprised to hear that your project management systems probably aren’t working if they’re not visual. In this blog, I’m going to encourage you to embrace visual office spaces and project management systems—stay with us!

What Is a Visual Environment?

A visual environment is a workspace that is self-ordering, self-explaining, self-regulating, and self-improving. In such environments, what is supposed to happen does happen on time, every time—whether it’s day or night—because of visual devices. A huge shout-out to Gwendolyn de Galsworthy for that quote! It captures the essence of visual systems beautifully.

You’ll start noticing visual systems everywhere: in cars, on planes, on roadways, and in homes with modern technology. Human beings thrive in visual environments, and project management is no exception. This blog encourages you to incorporate visual devices to enhance your project’s efficiency.

Importance of Visual Project Management

Why do we need Visual Project Management? Simple! Just as a “like” on this blog tells me that the content was valuable and that I should create more of it, visual indicators help project teams understand progress. 

No one can read minds—neither your team nor your clients—so visual systems are essential. Remember: you can’t manage what you can’t measure, and you can’t measure what you can’t see.

Seeing the project, its data, and its plan is the first step in managing it effectively. Even concepts like the 5S methodology—sort, straighten, sweep, standardize, and sustain—begin with seeing. For any team to succeed, they need to visually understand what they must do together.

Different Ways to Implement Visual Project Management in Construction

  1. Visual Dashboards
    Visual dashboards display project information such as status, schedule, key performance indicators (KPIs), and milestones. They allow the team to see the project’s progress at a glance—whether for the next six weeks, the next week, or even just today’s plan.
  2. Lean Visual Tools
    Tools like visual controls and performance boards promote total team participation by making project data easily accessible and understandable.
  3. Huddle Boards
    During daily huddles, your team can benefit from visual systems to see the plan and schedule in a highly visible format. Without clear visuals, these meetings may lack focus.
  4. Kanban Boards
    Kanban boards help track visual tasks by showing their status: backlog, in progress, and completed. This method ensures that everyone knows the project’s priorities.
  5. Color-Coding Systems
    Use color codes for quick identification of task statuses, priorities, and project phases. These help enhance visual clarity and improve communication at the job site.
  6. Project Maps
    Maps can display important spatial layouts, including work zones, staging areas, and overall project progress. These help communicate how the work is unfolding in relation to time and space.
  7. Photographic Documentation
    Daily or progress photos, added to reports or posted on walls, serve as a powerful visual reference for the team. A visual narrative—like photos from walk-throughs—makes it easier for the team to align on what’s happening on the ground.
  8. Digital Whiteboards
    Collaborative visual planning is another key tool. Programs like Miro or Mural allow for real-time collaboration and brainstorming among team members.
  9. 3D Models and Virtual Reality
    These tools help visualize complex projects, enabling stakeholders to interact with the design and schedule in immersive ways.

How We Implemented Visual Project Management on a Project Site

Here are some examples of how we’ve used visual project management successfully:

  • Signage for Wayfinding: From parking areas to smoking zones to the job site, visual indicators help everyone navigate the site.
  • Dashboard Systems: We used digital screens to display real-time project data in the office.
  • Visual Safety Information: Clearly posted safety information helps ensure everyone is aware of critical rules and risks.
  • Conference Rooms with Visuals: We set up rooms with floor plans on whiteboards and TVs, which helped with pull planning and tactical decision-making.

Visual systems are vital for team alignment. As soon as you get the plan out of your head and onto the project site, everyone can see it, interact with it, and work together toward success.

If you want to learn more we have:

-Takt Virtual Training: (Click here)
-Check out our Youtube channel for more info: (Click here) 
-Listen to the Elevate Construction podcast: (Click here) 
-Check out our training programs and certifications: (Click here)
-The Takt Book: (Click here)

Discover Jason’s Expertise:

Meet Jason Schroeder, the driving force behind Elevate Construction IST. As the company’s owner and principal consultant, he’s dedicated to taking construction to new heights. With a wealth of industry experience, he’s crafted the Field Engineer Boot Camp and Superintendent Boot Camp – intensive training programs engineered to cultivate top-tier leaders capable of steering their teams towards success. Jason’s vision? To expand his training initiatives across the nation, empowering construction firms to soar to unprecedented levels of excellence.

On we go!