How To Transition From a Skilled Worker to a Management Role

February 21, 2024

Are you ready to take the leap from skilled tradesperson to construction manager? It’s a natural career progression, but it can be fraught with challenges. Here are some active steps you can take to make your management transition run more smoothly.

Acquire New Leadership Skills

If you’re making the transition to management, you probably already have some decent leadership skills. But this is only the beginning. Take advantage of the opportunity to learn as much as you can from your boss. You should also look for a mentor who has been in management for some time. That person can help guide your journey into developing your own leadership style.

Understand the Top Managerial Responsibilities in Construction

A construction manager has a lot of responsibilities that skilled workers have no reason to think about. These include, but are not limited to:

Overseeing budgets
Ordering materials
Setting schedules and meeting deadlines
Quality control
Staff management

Make sure you understand how each of these responsibilities works. Take the time to develop plans, and be sure to ask for help if needed.

Navigate the Cultural Shift

One of the trickiest parts of moving up to management is navigating your relationship with your coworkers. While they were once your peers, they now report to you. This can cause confusion and even jealousy. And you may have some trouble holding your team members accountable, especially those with whom you have been especially close.

This is normal and natural. Take advantage of your existing closeness with the team to foster a sense of inclusivity and a positive work culture. You’ll need to be careful not to let things slide, but your former peers will start to root for your success when they realize that you’re giving them a seat at the table. Be fair and evenhanded, and make your expectations clear, and you’ll be in a great position to keep things running smoothly.

Ready for a New Skilled Trade Position in the Great Lakes Region?

At Great Lakes Skilled Trades, we specialize in connecting professionals in the skilled trades with contractors who need their services throughout the Great Lakes region. If you’re a skilled trade worker looking for your next position, check out our available jobs today!

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Overcoming Common Challenges in Urban Commercial Construction

March 27, 2024

Urban commercial construction brings a whole set of challenges that contractors in the suburbs and rural areas never have to consider. But revitalization is extremely important for urban cores to survive and thrive, so these projects can be quite lucrative. Here are some common difficulties, along with tips to overcome them and remain on good terms with the neighbors. Tight Spaces In urban areas, there simply isn’t as much space to move around. You might have difficulty getting some of your heavy machinery to fit, or your subcontractors could be trying to paint an apartment the size of an average broom closet. Rise to the challenge by thinking outside the box. Carefully survey the entire space before you get started, and develop a detailed project plan in advance. Be sure to include entry and egress routes, alternative ways of getting things done, and even subcontractor schedules that minimize the number of people working in the same space at the same time. Local Regulations Many urban areas have byzantine construction regulations that are confusing and hard to follow. Take the time to research these regulations and understand what you need to do. Then, boil it all down into a simple, easy-to-read document that you distribute to everyone involved. Get to know the local authorities and find someone whom you can call whenever you have questions or concerns. Make sure your team members are ready to pivot if you find out that you missed or misinterpreted something significant. Always have a backup plan. Community Engagement Transparency can go a long way toward getting the local community on your side. Let people know what you’re working on and how it will benefit them. Explain why the project is happening, how long it will take, and whether it will impact their costs (such as taxes). If you’re redeveloping a historic building, be especially sensitive to the concerns of preservationists and meet with them separately to explain your plans. Noise Control You won’t endear yourself to the local community if you’re making a lot of noise when residents are trying to sleep. And remember, even if you’re working on an office building, there could be luxury apartments right next door. Use sound baffling measures to reduce noise. Whenever possible, work during daylight hours. Minimizing Disruptions No matter how careful you are, urban commercial construction projects are inherently disruptive to the neighborhood. But you can mitigate this with careful planning. Try not to block streets during morning or evening rush hours. Be considerate of any upcoming local events. Do your best not to interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic patterns. When you do need to create a blockage, be sure to put up signage and work as quickly as you can without compromising safety. Need a Skilled Trade Professional? At Great Lakes Skilled Trades, we specialize in connecting contractors with professionals in the skilled trades throughout the Great Lakes region. If you need a skilled tradesperson, learn more about our services, and then contact us today!