Jerry Aliberti, principal, Pro-AccelJerry Aliberti
Over the course of my 20 years in the construction business, I’ve not only run my own projects, but I’ve also discussed with many other project managers and construction owners what skills are required to be the best. Below is a list of some of the most important skills I feel can contribute to a successful project management team.
1) Mindset. A project manager’s role is to manage many moving parts on any given day. It can be very overwhelming managing so many people, lots of paperwork, owners, public agencies, local community complaints, bosses and so much more.
Burnout and mental health are real concerns and need to be nurtured. In addition to taking proper time off and staying fit and healthy, a project manager needs to understand that many people rely on them to make important decisions. You will have a fantastic sense of accomplishment and keep your mental health in line with success when you realize that your work is assisting in the development of the careers of those who work for you as well as communities and infrastructure.
2) Always have a sense of urgency. With schedules and budgets getting tighter, project managers need to have a sense of urgency when making decisions and coordinating the overall project. In addition, change orders need to be addressed quickly and not let slide until after the work is completed. Project issues need to be resolved as quickly as possible to avoid compounding the situation.
3) Communicate. Lack of communication causes high stress and high turnover. Every morning should be started with a morning huddle. Discuss recurring issues, including safety, and what’s possibly keeping crews from performing at peak performance. In addition, provide superintendents with schedules to be maintained and provide expected productions to the foreman. Also, find time to walk the site weekly and talk to your crews individually. This will increase morale and amplify communication.
