ForConstructionPros.com

Recently I completed a two-day visit with an incredible contractor. They are not real big (annual sales of a little more than $5 million) but their profits would easily be envied by many contractors, no matter the size.

Looking deeper at the reasons for their prosperity it was glaringly obvious: They control their expenses! How? The answer is even more simple...and obvious. They PLAN!

Each Monday morning they hold a company-wide meeting to review and remind each crew of the work schedule for the week. In front of everyone, each crew provides its strategy to get the week's work completed. At most companies this type of meeting is attended only by crew leaders, estimators, schedulers, and owners, but not at this company - everyone is there. In fact, members of each crew actually provide the strategy and execution plans for the week.

The second aspect of the planning is what is needed for each project to be completed. Each morning each crew meets to discuss what is needed for that day. No truck leaves the yard until every truck and worker has exactly what they need to complete that day's work. At the conclusion of each day the crew then reconvenes to discuss what happened during that day of work and what will be needed the following day. The crew leader takes notes, if needed.

Now, many contractors hold meetings like this, but what makes this contractor's effort unique is the amount of detailed thinking and planning that takes place. Let me briefly share some of the critical components of successful planning that is embraced by my contractor friend.