Effective communication on the construction job site is not just a matter of getting the job done right. Breakdowns in communication can lead to long delays, worker dissatisfaction, and even safety issues. Research conducted by the FMI Corp in 2018 revealed that miscommunication cost the construction industry $177 billion yearly. In addition, Dynamic Signal’s 2019 study found that 63% of employees were prepared to quit because of frustration with company communication and another 36% said they didn’t know where to find the information they needed to effectively do their work.
It should be clear then that it is important to establish clear communication protocols at your work site, so that work can be done safely and efficiently and so employees are productive and satisfied.
Some elements of good communication on the job site include:
- A good communication plan: Your communication plan should establish a chain of command that designates the flow of communication from one person to the next or one department to the next. For example, the owner and contractor usually communicate to each other through the architect (these higher-level communications are often spelled out in contract documents). Superintendents typically communicate with general contractors, who then communicate to subcontractors and so forth. You should also be clear how you will communicate for particular types of information. Some smaller points may only require a brief email, while others may necessitate a meeting of involved parties. Finally, you should be sure to document all oral conversations and encourage your employees to do so as well.
- Be clear and concise: Keep messages focused on the point at hand and avoid using jargon. Maintain straightforward and simple instructions, and be sure to proofread your written communications for accuracy. It’s a good idea to create bulleted lists for ease of reading and understanding.
- Maintain focus on facts: Unless your professional expert opinion is clearly needed in a situation, try to keep focus on factual information. Opinions may muddy the waters and can also lead to arguments, which are counterproductive.
- Listen actively: Too often, we don’t actually listen when someone is speaking. Instead, we consider what we will say next and thus miss the important content of the conversation. A good listener takes notes and asks clarifying questions once the speaker has finished. A good strategy is also to rephrase what has been said and speak it back to be certain you’ve understood the content of the conversation correctly.
- Be professional, respectful, and honest: Miscommunications often stem from feelings of disrespect. Keeping your communications professional by avoiding expressing emotion, considering your audience, and being honest about the situation can go a long way toward keeping channels open. A good rule of thumb when you’re feeling emotional is to either wait 24 hours before sending a communication, or ask someone else to read it before you send it.
- Encourage open communications: Employees who don’t feel comfortable communicating often won’t. How will you know about breakdowns in the process if your employees won’t speak with you?
— Ivan Young is a writer in partnership with Faxage online faxing services.
