Today, the Construction Foreman is one lost soul! For many, it is merely a glorified best worker or leadman position. They really aren’t in charge of anything nor do they really have the authority to execute needed plans on a site. In the worst-case scenario, they are glorified doers, not paid to think, just execute what their leader orders.
What a complete waste of human potential!
The Construction Foreman, if positioned and supported right, should be one of the most important and critical leaders to achieving success for the construction projects engaged. Let me share with you what good Construction Foremen demonstrate. If you are a Foreman, see how many match up with your current approach.
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Foremen Seek Work Plans Early
The best Foremen I’ve witnessed over the years are those who regularly ask for their next projects’ file. They want to get a head-start in reviewing plans, locations, job profile information on the customer, surrounding challenges, etc. Receiving the project info on the same day they are to start not only angers the best Foremen I’ve known, but leads to more quality, safety, and morale problems.
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Foremen Study Project Plans…and Ask Questions
The best Foremen I’ve witnessed never fake it. They have learned, some the hard way, that waiting till you are on the job site is not the time to be asking questions that might have changed how you prepared, what equipment you would have brought, or even what workers you would have taken. Briefly, the best Foremen want to study their plans, review their detail list of needed tools, equipment, materials, and to identify early who are the other contractors involved on the project.
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Foremen Follow Proven Methods…Consistently
The best Foremen I’ve witnessed don’t “experiment” without a prior reason and discussion to do so. “Proven Methods” best represent a company’s Standard Operating Procedures, or SOPs. For the smart contractor who has taken the time and pain to develop written SOPs, the Foremen will find, if they follow them, greater achievement than those sorry “bloats” that have nothing to follow. FACT: Contractors who have written SOPs, and follow them, increase their productivity, Foremen pay, project quality, and most importantly, make going home every day healthy and unhurt a 100% guarantee.
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Foremen Update Their Leaders Regularly
The best Foremen I’ve witnessed simply keep their leaders updated on a regular basis. They are transparent and realize that their leader, if updated, is better prepared to answer questions from the customer when caught off guard, AND, provide greater insights and consulting back to the Foreman that can help the job process improve. I’ve witnessed the best Foreman calling their leader once a day, twice a day, even every few hours depending on the project and how “risky” the project. The best Foremen I’ve witness do not work in a vacuum…nor do they want to!
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Foremen Prepare & Organize Every Day
The best Foremen I’ve witnessed prepare each new project, and each new day, as if it were the first time they led a project. There is a reason great athletes, and great teams, practice warm-ups and basic drills, daily, prior to entering the more intellectual part of their preparation for their next opponent. The best Foremen I’ve witnessed do this every day. This can include insuring that every truck and trailer is packed with all the needed tools, equipment, components, etc. This moves forward by doing a daily walk-about their job site, upon arrival, to ensure that no safety risks exist, and that overnight “project demons” have not changed or damaged the previous day’s effort.
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Foremen Prepare Their Crews on the Who, What, & How Much
The best Foremen I’ve witnessed consistently communicate with their crews who is assigned to what action and efforts. They also communicate what the needs of the project are that day… “Do we need to do some extra housekeeping? Do we need to start tearing down, clean, clean-up and stack the forms, etc.?” And, the best Foremen I’ve witnessed always discuss “how much” needs to be accomplished by lunch or the end of the day. This sets daily goals and gives the crew something tangible they can strive to achieve.
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Foremen Hold Crew Members & Themselves Accountable
The best Foremen I’ve witnessed realize that accountability moves through all workers, including themselves. They do not look for easy passes by their senior leaders, realizing that their senior leader is also held accountable. The best Foremen I’ve witnessed hold their own workers accountable by insuring the timely arrival to work, proper use of time during the day is followed, and that no one quits for the day too early and not before there is some level of housekeeping completed. When the worker fails in their duty, they are spoken to first, reprimanded on a second incident, perhaps disciplined on a third offense, and even terminated on a fourth. Most good and worthy employees get the message after the first or second corrective action taken by the Foreman. For those who don’t connect the dots until the fourth incident, it’s often best to let them go before they infect their form of work ethic into other company employees.
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Foremen Embrace and Use Their Authority Wisely & Respectfully
The best Foremen I’ve witnessed have authority, given to them by their senior leaders, to use as needed to get jobs ready, executed, and cleaned-up so they can move to the next project. The best Foremen I’ve witnessed realize that having such authority is precious and should not be squandered by smarting off to their leaders, cussing out their workers, and telling their customers to “take a hike.” It is a privilege to be entrusted with the authority to make a project successful. The best Foremen I’ve witnessed realize this and feel empowered to lead, with pride, their workers to be the beset crew possible in completing work, win the trust of their customers, and continued faith in them by their senior leaders.
It is an honor to be a leader. The best Foremen I’ve witnessed believe this and realize that their work efforts, and results, influence their pay, their level of trust and respect among senior leaders and the owner, and, has the most influence for their own promotion to higher levels of responsibility, if that’s their goal.
What do Foremen really do? I think a lot personally. Show me a great Foreman and I’ll show you a leader who trains their followers, spends more time with new employees and those who are challenging the SOPs or the company’s requirements, and finally, who takes pride in being a leader.
Be the Foreman who strives for excellence. Pay no attention to other Foremen who make fun of your preparation and organizational habits, knowing you will be rewarded while other non-performing Foremen may find themselves not doing things the right way…for another contractor.
Brad Humphrey
The Contractors’ Best Friend
