Leadership Through Management at the Construction Site
By Jennifer Axley
Construction in the United States last year was valued at $1.36 trillion. With many risks involved and a large budget, it is no wonder that leadership development is crucial to effective management, especially within the world of construction. Management and leadership are two contradictory concepts – Peter Drucker points out that “leadership is doing the right things; management is doing things right.” Leadership development in construction management facilitates success by bringing out the best qualities in the team members.
Formation of Leadership Development and Styles
A recurring quote about recruiting and hiring is that “people join a company. They leave a boss.” This issue is resolvable through leadership development. Recognizing the importance of leadership development is necessary – it is the first step to becoming better.
At the construction site, leadership development is more valuable than ever. Once the team has a strong leader who wants to invest in them to increase productivity and collaboration, the team members will develop into stronger individuals. As a leader, it is paramount to also look beyond the goals and evaluate the team. Instilling desirable characteristics within team members contributes to leadership development.
Additionally, leadership development is practically impossible without first having a solid leader with a defined leadership style. A missing or inconsistent leadership style leaves the team confused with no sense of direction. Leadership within construction management comes from conscious acknowledgment and implementation of a leadership style in the workplace. The ideal forms of leadership for construction management are:
- Transformational leadership: Used across multiple industries, this form of leadership encourages teammates to work towards a common goal and adapt to the changes within the industry. A mission statement or vision acts as a motivator. In construction management, transformational leadership fills the need for a positive work environment that prompts the team to work collaboratively towards completing the job.
- Strategic leadership: This form of leadership builds upon what it sounds like: strategy. Not only does it encourage futuristic thinking, as opposed to only focusing on day-to-day tasks, but it also emphasizes clear communication and commitment. The amount of precision, skill, and labor that goes into construction management calls for a well-thought-out plan set by a dynamic strategic leader.
- Pacesetting leadership: Pacesetting leadership motivates the team to reach their goals quickly while contributing their highest quality of work. A set pace and tangible goals help the team to recognize the needed steps to attain their goals. These also inspire them to put their best foot forward in their work.
Knowledge Is Power: Educated Leaders
Higher education has formative effects on how influential a leader will be. Those who are college-educated hold the majority of leadership positions at roughly 94%. Regarding construction management, a college-level degree helps to both land the job and be a valuable leader who pushes the team to reach their fullest potential.
Reflect and Reinvent
Reflecting on performance and morale betters both the leader and the team. If leadership development has never been discussed within your team before, it is worth reviewing. Good leaders create eager workers who have the company’s best interest at heart.
RELATED: Minimizing The Risk Posed By Indoor Air Pollution On Site