Effective Leadership Skills for Construction Field Leaders

The transition from trades worker to leadership in construction can be difficult. This is a fantastic guide to help ease that transition and give you the hints and tricks you need to transform your trade skills into ones you can use in your new leadership role. Take examples and information from real-life case studies. This is a perfect guide for anyone who leads a construction team, whether you have been in the role a couple months or a couple years.

Table of Contents

Contents

Book Features

Learner Resources

About the Author

1. Contracting Business
   1. The Contractor’s View
      1. Competing for Projects
      2. The Construction Teams
      3. For Discussion
      4. Take Action
   2. The Cost of Doing Business
      1. Direct and Indirect Costs
      2. Financial Risk
      3. Cash Flow
      4. Small and Large Projects
      5. How Profit is Made
      6. For Discussion
      7. Take Action
   3. The Role of Field Leaders
      1. Qualified to Lead
      2. Project Planning
      3. Crew Supervision
      4. Project Coordination
      5. For Discussion
      6. Take Action
   4. Case Study – The Contracting Business
   5. How Can a Contractor Increase Potential for Success?
2. Leadership Qualities
   1. Professionalism and Respect
      1. Set the Example
      2. Respect is Earned
      3. For Discussion
      4. Take Action
   2. Credibility and Character
      1. Make Sound decisions
      2. Take Responsibility
      3. For Discussion
      4. Take Action
   3. Ethics and Integrity
      1. Treat People Fairly
      2. Be Honest and Trustworthy
      3. For Discussion
      4. Take Action
   4. Teaching and Learning
      1. Mentor Future Leaders
      2. Learn Continually
      3. For Discussion
      4. Take Action
   5. Case Study – Leadership Qualities
   6. How Can a Field Leader Be Effective?
3. Planning and Organizing
   1. Making Lists
      1. Using Lists
      2. Failure to Plan
      3. For Discussion
      4. Take Action
   2. Planning in Phases
      1. Detailing
      2. Tools and Materials
      3. Manpower
      4. Coordination
      5. For Discussion
      6. Take Action
   3. Planning Challenges
      1. One Thing at a Time
      2. Make Notes and Lists
      3. Set Priorities
      4. Minimize Interruptions
      5. For Discussion
      6. Take Action
   4. The Importance of Organization
      1. Organized Job Sites
      2. Safe Job Sites
      3. For Discussion
      4. Take Action
   5. Case Study – Planning and Organizing
   6. How Can an Effective Field Leader Respond to Unplanned Events?
4. Project Coordination
   1. Safety First
      1. Safety Leadership
      2. Communicating Safety
      3. Risky Behavior
      4. Litigation
      5. For Discussion
      6. Take Action
   2. Documentation
      1. Change Orders
      2. Daily Job Logs
      3. Requests for Information (RFIs)
      4. Purchase Orders and Packing Slips
      5. Coordination Meeting Action Items
      6. Job Progress
      7. As-Builts
      8. For Discussion
      9. Take Action
   3. Production Challenges
      1. Lack of Planning
      2. Lack of Tools and Materials
      3. Lack of Organization
      4. Lack of Coordination
      5. Poor People Skills
      6. Poor Crew Morale
      7. Crew Inconsistency
      8. Avoidable Mistakes and Rework
      9. Loose Ends
      10. For Discussion
      11. Take Action
   4. The Stress Factor
      1. Identifying Stress
      2. Lowering Stress
      3. Reasonable Expectations
      4. Self-Preservation
      5. Stepping Up
      6. Work-Life Balance
      7. For Discussion
      8. Take Action
   5. Case Study – Project Coordination
   6. How Can an Effective Field Leader Coordinate Projects?
5. Communication and Morale
   1. Effective Communication
      1. Speaking Skills
      2. Listening Skills
      3. Observation Skills
      4. Reading Skills
      5. Writing Skills
      6. Daily Communication
      7. For Discussion
      8. Take Action
   2. Crew Support and Morale
      1. Boosting Morale
      2. Morale Busters
      3. Maintaining Crew Morale
      4. For Discussion
      5. Take Action
   3. Disruptive Behaviors and Conflict
      1. Inappropriate Conduct
      2. Differing Points of View
      3. Difficult Workers
      4. Verbal and Written Warnings
      5. Difficulties with Other Trades
      6. Tactics for Addressing Conflict
      7. For Discussion
      8. Take Action
   4. Case Study – Communication and Morale
   5. How Can an Effective Field Leader Communicate?
   6. How Can an Effective Field Leaders Sustain Crew Morale?
   7. How Can an Effective Field Leader Address Conflict?