While getting ready to pour the foundation for your commercial construction project, you notice that something is off. You double check the plans and all of your prep work and determine that there is definitely a concern that needs to be brought to the attention of your management team.

Is it time to panic?

No way!

Bringing bad news to the boss is never fun, but when approached correctly, it can be a great opportunity to build a trusting relationship. Whether you are bringing up a complaint about working conditions or voicing a concern over a certain aspect of your commercial construction project, here are some helpful tips that will help turn a potentially bad experience into a positive conversation.

Timing is everything

There is a time and a place for approaching your boss with a concern; however, blurting out your issue with the electrical wiring while the electrician is in earshot is definitely not one of them. Start off by taking a breath and thinking things through. It is a trivial matter? Is it a safety issue? How is it affecting the project as a whole? If you feel that the issue needs addressing, schedule a private meeting at a convenient time for your supervisor and describe the problem. Remember to be specific, and don’t be afraid to name names, as long as you do so respectfully.

Leave emotion at the door

If you are upset about an issue, the best way to get through to your management team is to stick to the facts and lose the emotion. Storming into the office will not do you any good, and will probably cause your boss to focus more on your inappropriate behavior than the issue at hand. Focus on explaining the problem in a calm, professional manner and provide solid reasons for why the problem needs to be addressed.

Have a solution at the ready

When approaching your boss with a problem, always have a proposed solution – or multiple solutions – in mind. Not only will this prevent you from looking like a complainer in front of your management team, but it will also give them something to work with. They will appreciate that you have thought things through and may even be impressed by your ideas and initiative.

Request rather than demand

Working on a commercial construction project requires a lot of teamwork and collaboration, so if you encounter a problem with a coworker or an issue about the project itself, you should always frame your concerns as a request or an inquiry and not a demand. Allow your boss to make the ultimate decision on what needs to be done, and then respect that decision. Even if you don’t get the outcome you wanted, at least your concern has been noted.

If you are anxious about approaching your boss with a problem, then talk to the professional consultants at George Rullo and Associates . We have been providing excellent advice and quality construction consulting for over 20 years!

For more ideas on how to approach your boss with a concern, call 732-810-1049 today!

As a project manager, you know how hard it is to keep your team motivated throughout the day, especially when you are in the middle of a tedious task. Teamwork is the most effective way to get the job done, so you need to inspire your team and utilize their knowledge and skills to accomplish the goals at hand. The commercial construction consultants at George Rullo and Associates want to help you bring out the best in your employees, so take a look at these powerful tips for getting your team through the work day.

Create a pleasant, safe working environment

If someone feels comfortable and appreciated in their work environment, then they are much more likely to produce quality work. Start off by making sure that your construction site is in compliance with all OSHA safety regulations to put their mind at ease and provide them with any protective gear or additional training so they feel confident in their work. If they come to you with a question, clarification, complaint, or suggestion, hear them out and work towards finding a suitable solution. Make sure they know that they are a valued member of your team.

Know Your team

Take the time to get to know your team and find out their strengths. If someone is a detail-oriented person, then set them on projects that suit their personality when available. Some people like to chatter away while they work and others like to focus in on the task at hand, so try not to pair them up too often. Knowing the skills, expertise, idiosyncrasies, and likes/dislikes of the members on your team will not only make the team more effective, but help them stay motivated.

Set realistic goals

New projects are exciting, but suddenly overloading your team with work is a sure-fire way to discourage even the most dedicated team member. After all, you can’t build a skyscraper in a day. So, meet with your team and listen to their input, setting realistic goals for the day, week, month, or project duration. That way, everyone knows what to expect, and no one is blindsided by impossible workloads.

Don’t micromanage

No one likes a boss who is constantly second-guessing everything they do. Give your team members their assignments and let them figure out the best way to accomplish them. If there are certain items on the schedule that need prioritizing, then by all means share the information, but then step back and let them run with it.

Celebrate success

Never underestimate the power of celebration! Whether it comes at an important milestone or at the end of a long project, simply acknowledging the accomplishments along the way makes all the sweat and hard work worthwhile. Even a small “We got so much done today!” or ordering in pizza for lunch is a great way to keep morale high.

Find more motivational tips by calling the consulting experts at 732-810-1049!