Bad communication can have a wide range of consequences. From missed dinner reservations to awkward meetings explaining why a construction project is months behind schedule, the result is never positive. So how do you prevent miscommunications that lead to disaster?
In the construction industry, there’s simply too much at stake not to practice effective communication. With that in mind, here are a few tips to follow to prevent future miscommunications and misunderstandings.
1. Plan frequent meetings
To keep things simple, start by designating one day in the week for meetings and stick to that schedule as much as possible. Employees can focus solely on tasks the other days of the week, and they'll know when they need to dedicate time to meetings.
You also don’t want to have meetings just to have them, so make sure there is a purpose for each meeting and to come prepared with an agenda.
Use Skype, Zoom, or other teleconferencing solutions to save time and money when stakeholders are offsite or traveling and, if appropriate, share meeting notes with attendees and relevant parties afterwards.
2. Use digital technologies like Raken
Digital solutions are the norm in construction today. Email and instant messaging are daily staples of modern communication, and documentation is increasingly going digital as well.
That’s what makes digital solutions like Raken ideal for the jobsite. We offer streamlined communication capabilities like:
Worker messaging
Digital document management
Automated production tracking
Raken keeps all your important project info in one place, so it's easier to share and access.
3. Have a formal communication plan in place
A construction site should have a clear plan for communication so that materials aren’t misplaced and steps aren’t missed. Did someone call the right subcontractor to check for underground wires? What’s the plan in case of severe weather or an accident? There should be an established answer for these types of questions.
The stakes are simply too high on the jobsite to make these decisions on the fly. Determining who is responsible for communication is a decision that should be made before a work project begins.
Document you communication plan and make sure all stakeholders are aware of their obligations.
4. Make sure everyone can understand you
It’s not uncommon for several languages to be spoken on the jobsite. To make sure everyone is on the same page, you should ensure that there is clear signage (usually in English and Spanish), and that everyone receives the proper training on the work being performed.
It may also be a good idea to have an interpreter present to make sure workers are staying safe and getting the proper information they need to perform their work at maximum efficiency.
5. Develop a talking culture
Create an atmosphere at work that leads to open communication. Employees should feel comfortable checking in with each other and management with status updates on their part of a project and their location when on the move.
Not only does this mean more efficiency and safety, but it leads to happier, more satisfied employees and a generally more pleasant working environment for everyone.
Try Raken for better jobsite communication
See our messaging and reporting tools in action.