What makes a person a leader? If I were to sum it up, I’d say that a person is a leader when he knows how to influence, communicate, and motivate. But I know that deep down, in the grand scheme of things, that a leader is much more than that.
For construction companies, being a great leader, in the form of a contractor, is truly a complex duty. They need to effectively plan, monitor, and control the progress of a project. Without them, their team won’t be able to operate effectively, which can gravely affect the reputation of the company.
Apart from that, a successful contractor knows how to put things in perspective and turn goals into habits. If your goal is to become one, then you need to study their habits too. But remember that a great leader does not just have cookie-cutter habits; they make sure that their habits are actionable and can render real results. For reference, we made a list of those habits that every successful construction leader possesses.
1. They have an eye for talent.
Successful contractors know talent when they see one. Just from observing a candidate’s actions and way of speaking, a leader must know whether that person will be of great contribution to the company. But this is not an easy habit at all. After all, leaders are no psychics.
To successfully do this, a contractor takes time to assess their employees — the way they speak, work, and all— to find their common denominator. That common denominator will then serve as his criteria when hiring new employees.
2. They go beyond their limits.
Great leaders do not just settle for the bare minimum. They know how to satisfy their clients’ needs by surpassing their boundaries, be it their ideas, effort, or energy, Keep in mind that doing this does not only take a risk but a lot of practice too. To surpass their limit, they attend brainstorming meetings, give encouragement and support to the team, and are open and willing to grow and learn. Most of all, great leaders know how to challenge their belief limit. They do not remain complacent with what they already know and believe. Instead, they do extensive research and undergo personal experience to challenges those beliefs.
3. They practice safety policies and procedures.
Safety is a huge risk that every contractor must face daily. Every leader knows that their employees are at risk from equipment, materials, and working conditions while on the project. They know that they could face legal actions and fees if they failed to provide a safe working environment for their employees And by knowing that, they make sure that their team practices the safety policies whenever on site.
4. They embrace technology.
Construction may be an age-old work, but mixing it with technology can contribute to the company’s efficiency and success. For example, mobile devices are now used to allow contractors to stay connected. Companies even invest in project management software to help with accounting and timecards. With that being said, it is important to know that being a great leader calls for adaptability, especially when dealing with technology’s constant progress.
5. They are proactive.
Leaders do not wait for a risk to happen before acting on it. Instead, they accept the fact that they can’t avoid all risks, and not everything will smoothly go as planned. They carefully assess all the risks they are likely to encounter and prepare a plan to mitigate them. Most of all, they know how to choose the right policies to combat all possible risks.
All these habits sound easier said than done — that’s true. It may even take a lot of practice and effort to make them stick to your life permanently, but there’s no need to lose hope. After all, remember that all successful leaders started in square one too.