At 5 am, Bob puts on his construction boots while his daughter sings the latest song on her phone.
His daughter excitedly rushes to the door to head to her office.
But not Bob.
It’s the same old routine for him.
Sometimes he looks envious of his daughter’s enthusiasm for her work.
He can’t help but think that maybe his daughter’s right and he’s just too old to change.
But then he remembers all the times he’s been able to help build something unique and how good it feels to know he was a part of that.
Not everyone can think like Bob. That’s why motivating your construction workers is essential to having successful construction projects.
This article will discuss why employee motivation is essential for your construction business and how you can improve construction performance with motivational strategies.
Have you ever thought about the reason you get up every day and go to work?
Some people would say it’s because they need the money. And while that may be true, there are other factors that come into play.
For example, if you didn’t enjoy your job or if you didn’t feel like you were making a difference, would you still go to work every day?
Probably not.
This is where motivation comes in.
When you’re motivated, it means that you’re eager and enthusiastic about your work.
You believe in what you’re doing and you’re driven to achieve your goals.
Unfortunately, not all construction workers are motivated. In fact, a study by the Construction Industry Institute found that only 30% of workers in the construction industry are highly engaged and motivated on the job.
This can lead to a number of problems, such as:
These are just a few of the reasons why motivation in workers is so important for construction managers.
If you can find ways to motivate your workers, you’ll see a significant improvement in your construction performance and increase productivity in no time!
But how exactly can construction companies accomplish this?
Keep reading to find out key pointers which you can include in your construction management plan today!
Working in the construction sector can be mundane for a lot of individuals.
It’s important to understand that not everyone is going to be enthusiastic about their job every single day.
Research also points out that productivity has not improved in the construction industry compared to manufacturing. Many publications mention motivation to be the key reason.
This is where good management can help facilitate the improvement of worker motivation at a construction site – it’s the responsibility of a construction manager to ensure that workers are motivated so they can perform to the best of their abilities.
So how can you do this?
Here are 7 strategies to help improve construction performance with motivation:
The first step to motivating your construction workers is to communicate with them.
Make sure you’re regularly communicating with your teams about the project goals, deadlines, and expectations.
This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that everyone knows what needs to be done.
It’s also important to listen to your teams. If they have concerns or suggestions, take them into consideration.
Your workers will be more motivated if they feel like their voices are being heard and that their opinions matter.
Many construction tracking apps nowadays also incorporate a built-in chat feature where you can quickly send a message or chat with your teams – this is a great way to stay connected with them.
You don’t have to be the one to send the message on a regular basis but you can relay the message to HR or the project manager in charge so they can communicate it to your teams for you.
It’s important to set clear goals and expectations for your teams.
This way, they know exactly what needs to be done and how you expect it to be done.
If your workers don’t know what they’re supposed to be doing, they’re likely to become frustrated and unmotivated.
Make sure you’re setting realistic and achievable goals for your teams. If you set goals that are too high, your workers will become discouraged.
It’s also important to provide feedback to your teams on a regular basis. This way, they can see how they’re progressing and what areas they need to improve in.
When assigning tasks to your workers, it’s important to be realistic.
Don’t assign too much work to one person or too little work to another. This can lead to frustration and low morale among your teams.
Try to distribute the work evenly so everyone has a fair share.
You should also take into account each person’s skillset and experience level.
If you have a worker who is new to the construction industry, don’t expect them to be able to do the same tasks as someone who has been working in construction for years.
Assigning tasks to many employees can be challenging but not impossible to have organized.
Tip: Use the latest technology to organize the tasks
Tracking apps like MobiClocks that include the drag-and-drop feature can be helpful in assigning tasks to your workers.
You can simply drag and drop the task into the assigned worker’s name. The app will then send a notification to the assigned worker letting them know that they have been given a new task.
This is a great way to ensure that everyone knows what needs to be done and when it needs to be done. Your project planning process can go smoothly knowing you won’t have internal disputes among team members later on.
Another way to motivate your construction workers is to provide financial incentives.
This could be in the form of bonuses, raises, or even rewards for a job well done.
Everyone loves to be recognized for their hard work and achievements.
Providing incentives will not only motivate your workers to do their best but will also help improve morale at your construction site.
Tip: Know how to plan your budget to offer incentives
When providing incentives, it’s important to plan your budget carefully.
You don’t want to head towards cost overruns and end up in financial trouble.
Think about how much you can realistically afford to spend on incentives and then stick to that budget. Sometimes it also pays off to have a bit of accounting knowledge to help you with the budgeting process.
Construction workers are always looking for ways to improve their skills and knowledge.
by offering training and development opportunities, you can motivate your workers to do their best.
These opportunities can take many forms such as online courses, workshops, or even on-the-job training.
Offering these opportunities shows that you’re invested in your workers and that you want them to succeed.
It will also help your workers feel more confident in their abilities, which can lead to better performance.
There’s no “I” in Team. And celebrating milestones together is a great way to show your appreciation for your workers and build team morale.
When a project is completed successfully, take the time to celebrate together. This could be in the form of a party or simply by providing lunch for everyone.
You don’t have to do this after every project but it’s a nice way to show your workers that you appreciate their hard work.
Recognizing your workers’ hard work will not only make them feel good but will also motivate them to do their best on future projects.
Flexible working schedules are becoming more and more common in the construction industry, especially after Covid.
Many workers appreciate the ability to choose their own hours and work around their personal commitments.
Offering flexible working schedules shows that you’re willing to work with your workers and that you understand their needs.
It’s a great way to motivate your workers and keep them happy.
There are many ways to motivate your construction workers. By using some of the tips above, you can improve morale at your construction site and get better results from your workers.
It’s important to remember that each worker is different and what motivates one person may not work for another.
Try out different techniques and see what works best for your workers. With a little bit of effort, you can create a motivated and productive workforce.
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