On the job site, time truly is money. The more you accomplish, the higher your profits. Of course, that’s easier said than done. In fact, most project managers feel like there simply aren’t enough hours in the day. Fortunately, adopting just a few time-saving strategies can drastically transform how much you and your team achieve in a day.
1. Learn to delegate.
Craftsmen aren’t the only people with a can-do attitude in the construction industry. Project managers have that same instinct for tackling projects on their own. When you’re at the helm, trying to do everything on your own is a major time waster. The whole business is much better off when you can learn to delegate routine tasks to others. Start by passing along the most basic to-dos before moving on to the more sophisticated ones to ensure a smooth transition.
2. Prioritize safety.
The worst mistake construction leaders can make when trying to save time is loosening their grip on job site safety. A robust safety protocol can actually save you time by preventing injuries and minimizing sick leave. To put things in perspective, the construction industry lost 103 million days of work due to workplace injuries in 2021 alone. You should never pull resources away from the safety side of your business. The health, financial, and time risks are too high.
Further Reading: Productivity, Safety, & Quality: How to Balance All Three On The Job Site
3. Have a pre-construction plan.
Don’t fall into the trap of assuming planning is a waste of time. Developing a robust pre-construction strategy can free up more time in the long run by clarifying goals, highlighting challenges, removing uncertainties, and setting budgeting expectations. Having these insights from the onset will prevent costly disruptions and delays.
4. Optimize communication.
A staggering 86% of employees blame a lack of communication as the primary cause of failed workplace goals. However, that doesn’t mean project managers should schedule a bunch of meetings, check-ins, and debriefings. The key to effective communication and collaboration is keeping everyone on the same page without requiring them to read a whole book.
5. Automate tasks.
It’s amazing how many hours of the day are eaten up by routine tasks. With some of the leading construction software, you can steal back those hours through partial or complete automation. Here are some time-draining to-dos you can easily hand over to the robots:
- Regulatory and safety compliance documentation
- Daily progress reporting
- Submittal and approval tracking
- Hour and attendance tracking
- Material shipment monitoring
And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!
6. Address client concerns.
Dealing with difficult clients might seem like a waste of time, but it’s nothing compared to the time you’ll lose by kicking the can down the road. Make a habit of addressing issues right away. Speak with the customer directly, show them you’re concerned, and find out how to solve the problem. You’ll have more time on your hands, and your clients will feel more confident.
7. Simplify hierarchies.
There’s a common misconception that more brains on a project or specific task will speed up results. In reality, you can quickly run into the too-many-craftsmen-on-the-jobsite issue. Leaner structures lead to quicker communication, streamlined decisions, and increased productivity. Try to keep management hierarchies and communication threads as flexible and lean as possible.
8. Outsource staffing demands.
Did you know it takes around 100 hours to hire a new person? And that’s when everything goes smoothly! Luckily, there’s a way you can avoid all this work while still getting qualified and talented recruits. When you work with a professional industrial staffer, you can completely outsource your staffing needs. This one move alone frees up an invaluable amount of time that you can dedicate to growing your business instead of just running it.
Feel like you’re wasting time on the recruitment process with nothing to show for it? You’re in the right place! The Madden Craftsmen team has decades of experience helping industrial companies find the best-fitting talent for their open positions. Get matched with dozens of qualified candidates within just a few hours by filling out a job order.
