Effective leadership today looks very different than it did ten or twenty years ago. The days of company leaders tucked away in their corner offices and protected by their executive assistants have all but disappeared. While the essential role that executives fill remains the same, today’s top leaders have adopted a more hands-on approach across industries.
To set your construction team up for success—both as a whole as well as for individual team members—it is best to cultivate a collaborative working environment. This means a focus on an “us” versus a “you” mindset when it comes to approaching production.
At its core, collaborative leadership is all about leveraging the skills of your team. In the past, people were hired for positions that held specific sets of job requirements. And while this may continue to be important when hiring for some construction jobsites, it is important to remain flexible and recognize opportunity. Over time, positions and their associated duties may evolve along with the needs of the organization. Often, however, the strengths of individual team members are not taken into account as these changes occur.
Today’s most effective leaders make an effort to know their team members. They adopt a collaborative work mentality that allows everyone to best leverage their individual strengths. It is proven that when people perform tasks that motivate and energize them, they are more productive, not to mention happier! Employees that are satisfied with their jobs are more engaged, and are less likely to call in sick or look for opportunities elsewhere. It is a win-win for everyone.
To create a collaborative environment, invest time and energy in your team. Cultivate success by making yourself available as a mentor, and support your team in finding influence and inspiration elsewhere in the company, as well. An open-door (literal or figurative) policy can go a long way in encouraging individuals to come to you with new ideas, or problems that they may have. Allow your team members to work outside of their traditional roles—you never know what hidden talents can arise from the right environment!
Most of all, allow space to work on the business versus in the business, and encourage your team members to do the same. Dedicate time every quarter to evaluate what is working and what could be improved. Celebrate successes and brainstorm ways to work on frustrations. Take a step back from the day-to-day grind to see how far you and your team have come. Set goals for the future to create an environment that everyone feels excited about and invested in. After all, collaborative environments allow everyone to learn, grow and thrive.
Photo by Nick Fewings on Unsplash
