In this month’s SuperVision, I want to give you a sneak peek into the two programs I’ll be presenting at AWCI’s Convention on April 19 and 20. Each program will help your company succeed in making your people more productive, and improve your bottom line.
Program #1—Are You a Project Manager or a Project Witness?
This is a new program that is all about helping the project manager maximize his or her talent and capability on the job.
Project managers need a solid foundation of management knowledge and expertise that covers the entire project life cycle. The program is designed to uncover your real productivity potential using process improvement along with management and leadership techniques.
These are main themes that will be covered:
• Project manager/project witness: What’s the difference? How does being one or the other affect the outcome of the job?
• What are the key components to the project manager’s overall process? Using key concepts like the Productivity Improvement Model, Support Team Triangle and Project Manager Accountability Checklist to facilitate the job process.
• How creating a positive work climate allows heightened productivity throughout the job. Organization is the key.
• Determine what type of leader you are and how well you communicate your expectations to all players on the job.
• Key Job Controls for each phase of the construction process. What do you need on hand for job start-up, job preparation and planning, job in progress and job close-out?
• End the program with your personal blueprint for moving forward in your role as project manager.
Program #2—Hard Hat Productivity: 9 Critical Factors for Maximizing Profits
To be successful is to be productive. When contractors and their people learn how to eliminate the obstacles and unnecessary delays affecting productivity on a job site, it is at that point they will be on their way to optimizing profits. The blueprint for this type of success is possible through the implementation of nine critical factors.
Embarking on a Journey to Excellence. Does the company want to get better and move forward on a journey to excellence—a process of continuous improvement? If "yes,” there must be a clear understanding of what it takes to achieve excellence.
The Hard Hat Basics. Everybody must identify the basics for making productivity a reality. Creating "everyday” productivity on the job site requires taking ownership, pride of workmanship, peak performance and job profitability.
Creating a Team Mentality. The criteria for creating a "team” mentality must be clearly understood by all players in the construction process. A series of building blocks must be put in place for teamwork to work.
Meeting the Leadership Challenge. The key components of leadership and what it takes to develop leadership effectiveness are essential for establishing a positive work climate.
Organization & Alignment. For a company to run smoothly, it must be organized. The process of organizing requires alignment between the office and the field. Specific job controls must be put in place for the organizing process to become a reality.
Motivation. The six keys for developing motivation power must be put in place. The foreman must know what it takes to establish a motivational climate, which includes such key components as implementing a feedback system; managing conflict; and negotiating effectively.
The Customer. The customer is the designated driver. Defining and delivering customer satisfaction requires skills that provide great performance for customers and builds long lasting relationships with them.
Developing People. A training plan for developing the management and leadership skills of staff and field supervisors must be put in place if increased productivity is a goal.
Managing Change. Managers must learn how to establish strategies that help them plan, direct and control the change process. They must acquire the necessary skills to implement a plan for change.
Norb Slowikowski is president of Slowikowski & Associates, Inc., Darien, Ill.
Slowikowski will be presenting "Are you a Project Manager or a Project Witness?” on April 19 from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and a Hard Hat Productivity Seminar, "Nine Critical Factors for Maximizing Profits,” on April 19–20 during AWCI’s Convention (April 15–19, 2012, in Charlotte, N.C.). Visit http://www.awci.org/cd.shtml for more information.
