There has perhaps never been a better time to be a construction manager. For one reason, these workers are in high demand. For another reason, the salaries are high and getting higher. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for a construction manager in the United...

Every interaction leaves an impression. Make sure it’s a good one. In construction, business owners, executives and project managers often spend their time pulled between jobsites and corporate offices, and their schedule rarely leaves time to deal with all the day-in and day-out issues that arise...

To build things, humans need to work together. Graduates of today’s best construction management programs have an excellent understanding of the technical side of construction — think BIM, for example. But that doesn’t mean they have the skills they need to succeed. If you can’t read and relate to...

In the construction industry of today, to grow or even preserve your profit margins you need to find smart ways to cut costs, especially as salaries for skilled workers are rising and material prices continue to increase. Shaving money from the budget necessitates uncovering hidden waste and...

Effective communication costs little yet the ROI can be huge. Semi-automated equipment, prefabrication, lean construction and IPD contracts all contribute to increased productivity. But something much simpler can significantly move the needle, too: effective communication. In a recent survey by...

According to a report from the nonprofit consortium Construction Industry Institute, based at the University of Texas at Austin, direct work typically amounts to only 35 percent to 45 percent of a craftsman’s time on the job. That’s a mind-boggling statistic with an enormous potential impact on a...

Everyone likes to be appreciated ad recognized for good work. When a company understands and acts on this fact, the payoff can be significant, especially in today’s challenging construction labor market. That’s why more companies across the board are embracing recognition programs. In a recent...

Plus, four ways to make your feedback more effective. Kim Ruyle, a member of the Society for Human Resource Management’s (SHRM’s) talent expertise panel, remembers the first time a boss offered him feedback. In fact, he believes that advice — which he received when he was 16 and working on a...

Granting authority along with responsibility is strategically smart. You rely on your foremen to keep crews in line, keep daily work on schedule and maintain tools and equipment. But how much power do you give them to make important decisions in the field? Giving them more authority to act...

Passion, personality and availability all count. In the construction industry, lessons learned from a book can take an employee only so far. Most skills are honed on the job over time. Learning from a mentor can speed the process. Being a mentor also has its advantages. Mentors learn new things from...