Observations in Collaboration
7 Scenarios Holding Back Progress that Everyone Notices
The more I learn about the construction industry and project management, permits, supply chains, and labour challenges the more I'm amazed that anything gets built, especially built with excellence. The best projects aren't those free of problems, that's impossible, it's those with an irresistible push coming from a number of highly trained, highly motivated and highly organized people who may or may not be "the one in charge".
However, even the most competent and talented Project Manager can get overwhelmed by a system with too many fractures in it, and the dam breaks open and a lot of hard work gets washed away. Unfortunately, in some cases, so does your reputation.
Collaborative Construction, Integrated Project Delivery, Lean Construction Methods, there are various names for essentially the same thing. Systematic procedures and structure that creates the best chance for success for all stakeholders.
Sending emails to 30 people, Cc'ing another 20 and Bcc'ing who knows how many is not an effective way to communicate. It's the 1990's digital equivalent of saying "Didn't you get the memo?" It didn't work then, it doesn't work now.
If the answer is so simple, why isn't it happening everywhere? Because change is hard, change is slow, and most people will fight against it by instinct even if it means they'll be better off.
The other challenge of course, is people, people used to doing it on their own now having to work in a team. People who are used to being led within a team who now have to figure it out on their own. I guess that falls under change is hard too.
Creating a process that makes sense and then implementing that process needs a few ingredients that everyone notices when they're missing:
Strong motivation to make things better - to get it right, not always having to be right.
The knowledge, skill and experience to understand the system and then teach it to others.
Strong communication skills. Sending emails to 30 people, Cc'ing another 20 and Bcc'ing who knows how many is not an effective way to communicate. It's the 1990's digital equivalent of saying "Didn't you get the memo?" It didn't work then, it doesn't work now.
Cloud based project management software. Sharing documents and collaborating in real time virtually is a necessity. Find one that works, even if it's not perfect, and just use the damn thing.
Put aside the ego and promote the right people. Everyone talks about how hard it is to find the right people. It's funny because there are always other people in that same company who work hard, make good things happen and feel unnoticed and under appreciated. Maybe we're turning a blind eye to those who quietly get things done and don't like to talk about themselves,. Follow the work, who's getting shit done?
Shut up and listen for a change. Having a problem with a sub-trade, supplier or the client? Be intentional, sit down, ask some questions and then actually listen to the answer.
I won't say take the emotion out of it, because we're human and that's impossible. I will say, detach your emotion from it and use your best counsellor voice. The blame game, aggressive behaviour, threatening, doesn't get you what you want, in fact, it does the opposite, no one is going to want to work with you in the long run. They may have to put up with you for now, but they're already making plans to ditch you like their old cell phone.
Everyone talks about how hard it is to find the right people. It's funny because there are always other people in that same company who work hard, make good things happen and feel unnoticed and under appreciated. Maybe we're turning a blind eye to those who quietly get things done and don't like to talk about themselves. Follow the work, who's getting shit done?
Perfection is the greatest enemy of progress. The belief that things can be "perfect" keeps us from seeing what is going well. The continual focus on what's going wrong doesn't actually improve progress, it actually stunts it, this has been proven over and over — by science. All you have to do is search "why focusing on weaknesses doesn't work" and dozens of research articles and books will come up showing you all the data you need.
Talk to you again in a few weeks!
“There are two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. Try to be in the first group; there is less competition there.” – Indira Gandhi, former prime minister of India
