Reshaping the Construction Industry

The following article originally appeared in the May newsletter to clients of Kiley Advisors, now a part of FMI Corporation. Reprinted with permission. There is an amazing similarity between what real champions in both sports and business do, and it is worth some reflection. In the broadest sense, these people and organizations, no matter what their demonstrated competencies and past performance records, strive, not just hope, to get better. They take proactive steps to develop a qualified outside support system that allows them to make candid comparisons, set realistic strategic targets, and develop the specific skills needed. They have extraordinary mental toughness and discipline. They know they can get better; they make the investments to acquire the guidance and coaching; they do the work. They repeat this process.

A few weeks ago, a crane collapsed early on a Sunday morning while attempting to remove a 7,000-pound sign which hangs over the intersection of Westheimer and Post Oak Boulevard near the Houston Galleria. Anyone who has visited the area will remember the iconic circular street signs which hang over three Galleria-area intersections. The signs are being temporarily relocated during a construction project to widen Post Oak Blvd.

Do you ever feel that way? “I just can’t get respect from my crews.” The issue may not always be with everyone else; it may be a simple issue that you may not even be aware of. I see many tradesman, office workers, clerks, managers, and many others of those in the workforce that are trying so hard to achieve their own goals that they set for themselves, they forget about the many people around them that could make achieving their goals much easier. It starts out small, by putting demands on those around you that are not explained, or delivered in a respectful way to the other person. Over time it comes to a point where you are blaming everyone around you for not doing a good job, or “I am so overworked I have to do everything.”

This is the change year for politics, construction, and technology. One wise philosopher once said that, “Every time of change brings tremendous risk, but also brings tremendous opportunity.” Emily Peiffer over at Construction Dive published a paper on 10 Construction Industry Trends to Watch in 2017. Watch if you want to, but I would go further and say that if you want to emerge in a better position in 2018, you had better incorporate some of these changes into your business today.