Let me ask you a question – what motivates your construction crew?
If you answered “a paycheck,” you get a point. It’s probably true that your crew isn’t going to show up for work if they aren’t getting something out of it. But a paycheck isn’t going to guarantee your crew is putting in their best effort, either. This is what we like to call the “who gives a cr*p?” philosophy.
Example – “I’m getting paid Friday, so who gives a cr*p if we get don’t this job finished until Monday?”
That’s why sometimes you’ve got to look at the big picture and figure out what else it takes to get properly motivated, more productive employees. We’re not necessarily talking about foot rubs and massages on the job site. All that being said, here are five things you can do for construction team motivation that really works.
1. Let Them Know What You Want
Look, we know things get busy. As a construction project manager, you’ve got about ten million things to do and ten minutes to do all of it. Add into the mix having to oversee your crew, manage employee attendance and take care of employee scheduling and it’s not hard to end up sending workers out onto the job site with only a point and a grunt.
Of course, that leads to frustrated workers, unsure of what they should actually be doing with their time, and less actual work gets done as a result. Taking a couple of extra minutes to specifically outline each workers’ responsibilities goes a long way toward construction team motivation. A big part of management in construction is actually letting your team know what you expect, so use your words, buddy.
2. Recognize a Job Well Done
Sometimes workers need a kick in the butt to get started but remember that when they’ve been doing well and meeting their goals, they deserve a pat on the back too. Whether your employee has improved their time management, learned a valuable new skill, or finished a project ahead of schedule, let them know they’re appreciated. (Here’s a helpful tip – a cold drink never goes down the wrong way.) On top of all that? If your crew is really feeling the love, they’re probably going to spread the word to their pals in the construction industry, which is a great way to attract and retain employees.
3. Work on Your Company’s Attitude
All right, let’s face it. Not everyone wakes up and thinks, “Oh boy! It’s time to get ready for work!” But that doesn’t mean having your workers punch in on their time clock app should have them facing an existential crisis. Believe it or not, there’s a middle ground, and it all has to do with your company’s culture.
A successful construction project manager will take a couple of minutes out of their day to let their workers know they matter. So ask about your workers’ kids. If they don’t have kids, ask about their dog. Get to know who they are, what their goals are for the future, and find out what you can do to help them with their goals, inside or outside the construction industry. Trust us, a positive company culture makes a world of difference, and can even lead to higher profits. Cha-ching!
4. Make Things Easier, Not Harder
Some business owners inadvertently make things harder than they need to be, and that’s a surefire way to stifle the motivation of their crew members. So, find ways to keep things simple. For example, using a time card app like busybusy to clock in and clock out instead of paper time cards can ease stress for everyone involved. (It also helps guarantee accurate time tracking and makes it easy for employees to clock in or out on-the-go, a win-win for everyone involved.)
5. Let Them in on the Big Picture
Where do you see your company in a year? Two years? Five years? You’ve probably thought about that – having a clear vision for the future is a common trait among top construction companies – but have you clued your construction crew in on the big picture? Not only that but have you let your workers know how they fit into your plans for your company’s future? That “who gives a cr*p” philosophy we mentioned earlier goes out the window when workers realize they might be sticking around with your business for the long haul, so take the time to clue them in on your plans and how they fit into those plans.
At busybusy, we value teamwork. Our employee time clock, available via a mobile app, helps you and your team track employees’ hours with advanced data and tracking capabilities that help you make better business decisions. Ready to learn more? We bet you are. Contact us today!
