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You often hear football coaches speak of their team's need to put together a "complete game," that is, play well for all four quarters. Construction companies too must seek the complete job, working to see that every quarter (i.e. 90 to 120 minutes) of their day is completed to schedule, specification and expectation. Let's take a look at the four quarters and what you should focus on to ensure that each day is successful.

First quarter

The first quarter is won by those construction leaders who have properly prepared their workers for a quick and effective start. This should include you ensuring that your workers are informed about any early changes to the day, where each worker is to be positioned to work, and what resources, equipment and tools are needed and where.

Daily instructions, reminders of quality and safety and early deployment of work tasks are presented during "Q-1." This first quarter of direction should primarily confirm what the end of the previous day's message from you should have shared in preparation for the following workday. Additionally, you should use Q-1 to inspect the mental, emotional and physical aspects of the workers, taking note of any early morning question marks that will require follow-up in the second quarter.

Second quarter

Allow your workers to begin their day (Q-1), finding their work rhythm for the day. Early in the Q-2 you should follow up to see that instructions and directions are being followed and answer any questions or correct any signs of misunderstanding or wrong performance efforts. The workday is four quarters of time and performance, so it is important that you realize the production numbers that must be arrived at by "half time."

Within 30 to 45 minutes of the mid-day break (i.e. lunch), you should assess if production is ahead of or behind the daily goals. This requires you to know the performance numbers to determine whether production is ahead or behind. If production is behind the needed results, then adjustments may be made to further the production output for the second half. This might include adding some additional employees to the work, deciding to work overtime or alerting the customer or other contractors to the expected delay in completion.