5 Critical Tips for Construction Communication
Communication is a critical skill in any industry, but in the construction industry, where so many parts rely on proper attention being paid to the task before it, it becomes critical. In fact, a 2018 study found that miscommunication within the construction industry costs up to $177 billion a year. So how can you avoid confusion, enhance safety, and save money on your job site? Communicate well! Here are our top 5 critical tips for construction communication.
#1 Create a Communication Chain and Keep It Open
While a portion of the hierarchy at a job site is laid out in initial contract documents, others are loosely structured based on position. Typically, the upper-level structure determined by the contracts looks something like this: project owner ➟ general contractors ➟ subcontractors ➟ individual team members.
At the upper levels, communication flow is relatively set, but working out the intricacies between subs and individual team members can be complicated. Be sure to document exactly whose job it is to report to whom and the communication flow that should exist on the site. Take the time to make sure each member of your staff knows who they should be receiving information from, and to whom they should be reporting things. This two-way flow of communication helps apprehend small issues before they become problems.
#2 Keep it Simple
While having a complex vocabulary can help you articulate exactly what you’re trying to communicate, when it comes to job site communication, it’s more important to be simple. Using complex or technical vocabulary, even industry jargon that may not transcend to other facets of the job site, can lead to confusion among workers. Keeping it simple, being clear and concise is your best bet. In written communication, take advantage of bullet points and bolding. When on a loud job site, keep communication short and simple. Have backups, like a flag system or hand movements so that communication continues, even when words can’t be heard.
#3 Train Consistently
OSHA has certain requirements for training, but don’t let it stop there. Training serves two functions. First, it allows job site workers to function efficiently on your site. Being up-to-date helps increase efficiency and accuracy. Secondly, it creates an event, often between 2 individuals, where one is learning from another. This aids in creating relationships and keeping those lines of communication open (see tip 1).
#4 Track and Measure Issues
Learn from the past or help ensure that you learn from today for tomorrow. Document everything, every step along the project. This will help you see where your issues lie. Sometimes miscommunications aren’t obvious. By tracking things, you can see where gaps are, where communication needs to be increased, and where your delays happened. Whenever possible, automate this documentation, so it won’t be forgotten, and you save your staff time.
#5 Plan for a Bilingual Staff
Especially in South Florida, plan for a portion of your staff to operate better in another language. While you may expect your staff to be able to communicate in English, having technical or safety information communicated in their native language will allow less room for translation error. A study from Forbes found that 67% of employers found inefficiencies in their organization due to miscommunications caused by language barriers. Plan accordingly and save your project time and money in the process.
Bonus Tip: Email or Call?
Not all communication takes place on the job site. Sometimes it’s a conversation or an email, but how do you know which one to use? Here’s a quick reference:
Pick up the Phone: when you need clarity, want to create camaraderie, or need to discuss things to get answers
Send an Email: if it involves guidelines, something they'll need for reference in the future, for quick questions and answers, and for succinct communication
What Tips Work on for Your Job Site?
Every job site is unique, and all these tips won’t work in every single situation. But realistically, the better your communication is, the less likely you are to encounter issues, have safety problems, fall behind schedule, or lose time and money repeating things. Taking a few minutes to plan out your communication strategy could help improve your job site productivity.