Any new project employs many different people, personalities, past building experience and “world views” of how each individual believes things should work. After many years of experience in facilitating meetings designed to make a project team function more effectively, I’ve learned a few tricks that, if made by individuals, can lead to a more professional and profitable project for everyone involved.
Tip #1 – Remember, the project will have some “not so good” days or actions periodically
In my more than 30 years of building and working with contractors around the world, I’ve not experienced one project yet that didn’t have some “surprises” at some point in the project. Identifying every conceivable problem before it occurs is, of course, one important purpose to conducting the Partnering Session. However, there will still be some “uh ohs’” along the way…even on the best of projects.
The key here is to remain calm, deal with the root cause and address it thoroughly before moving ahead.
Tip #2 – Look at each of the other project members as important to the overall project completion
Construction is truly a “team thing.” To not regard other members, no matter their role and position can be a small step in the wrong direction producing huge consequences. Owner, engineer, architect, superintendent, project manager, foremen, suppliers, inspectors and project administrator — they are all important, some more often; but they are all critical to the entire project being a success.
Tip #3 – Get to know other project members as early as possible
The sooner each project member begins to approach and receive others in a more diplomatic and professional manner, the sooner decisions can be made and less guessing about “I wonder how they will react to this change?” This tip can be greatly exercised early in the project by taking a simple communication profile assessment, sharing the results with fellow project-mates, and followed up on by having periodic “mixers” or lunches where different members are encouraged to interact with others.
This isn’t always easy to schedule, and you may never have all the players present, but being consistent on this social effort can go a long way with building greater education and experience with multiple players, always leading to better teamwork and decision-making.
Tip #4 – Conduct an initial “Partnering Session”
Do this at the earliest possible time into the project and you will set the project and its members on the right foot. This session should be several hours in length and involving all of the leaders representing the many different players connected to the team.
The first session might actually serve as the first formal introduction of each company to the project. Time should be spent focusing on the different communication profiles that exist on the team, what specific needs and expectations exist among the members, and what serious issues could arise and more importantly, how will the project team address such issues.
The Partnering Session isn’t a guarantee for project success but it does put faces to names and names to personalities, and personalities to potential teamwork opportunities.
Tip #5 – Conduct a monthly or quarterly “cleansing”
This may sound a bit odd at first, but the practice of it is quite helpful to maintaining good relationships for the life of the project among people who will need each other as the project proceeds and faces critical moments. The “cleansing” is not another excuse for Happy Hour, but it is a time for members to address any of their disappointments, frustrations or misunderstandings.
The environment for this effort should be conducted “off-site” from the project and be facilitated by a non-project member. Ground rules should be provided that assist the members to realize that this meeting is not a chance to merely vent anger but to address issues that can and will negatively impact the project at some point.
Over the years I’ve facilitated many of these sessions, and they have a positive impact on members 90% to 95% of the time. I’ve actually witnessed strong-headed players who have apologized for perhaps sending the wrong message to another member. I actually had one member clearly point out everything that they did not like about another member.
After the “cleansing” discussion the two individuals, both professionals in their fields, went out for a drink and their recovering ended up having a very positive impact on the remainder of the project.
For the time and money involved, conducting a Partnering Session, and the other four tips addressed in this article are key components to experiencing a better, more safe and profitable project for all involved. Keep the five tips actively engaged on your project and watch the project become one of your most enjoyable projects in your career thus far!
Here’s to having great project partners!
