According to Jerald Lee Hill, success in construction and development rests in no small part on solid foundations, both figuratively and literally. Crucial to these foundations is effective leadership. Renowned real estate construction, development, and management professional Hill is a long-time advocate of the importance of top-tier management and direction in all areas of life.
Within construction, leading in the direction-forward manner championed by Hill underpins everything from cutting-edge innovation to worker safety, he reports. According to expert Hill, safe and efficient work rests on exceptional leadership, which shapes almost every other element of the broader project management landscape.
With that in mind, the following is a closer look at why effective leadership is crucial in construction and development, courtesy of Kansas City, Missouri-based subject matter expert Hill.
Communication Is Key
Effective leadership hinges on clear, honest, and open communication, Missouri native Hill reports. Clear communication at all levels ensures that everyone remains on the same page. Communication channels must exist between each involved party, from those in the boardroom to the men and women on the ground.
With everyone on the same page, results happen faster and more smoothly, according to Hill. The expert also stresses the importance of delegating wherever appropriate or necessary to keep timelines on schedule. Like physical construction foundations, figurative foundations rooted in transparent, honest, open communication and delegation help support a project from start to finish.
Open communication channels also promote transparency and inspire accountability and trust. Accountability, transparency, and trust collectively ensure a favorable working environment for all, allowing individuals across the board to efficiently, effectively, and seamlessly fulfill their roles.
Placing Safety First
Safety is paramount in any facet of construction. The absolute success of all construction projects ultimately rests on the safety of a project’s workers. Accordingly, those at the top must prioritize worker safety, day in and day out. Industry expert Jerald Lee Hill says it’s the overarching responsibility of those in charge to ensure that everyone goes home safely at the end of each shift.
Furthermore, by placing a firm focus on safety, the most effective leaders inspire more of the all-important accountability, transparency, and trust established by ensuring clear channels of communication. That includes equipment, training, safety protocols, and other considerations underpinning proper worker protection.
Above all else, safety must underpin almost every other decision made for the lifetime of any construction project. An unequivocal cornerstone of the industry, safety is not optional, and Hill says it is one of the most vital foundations that a construction company leader can establish on any project.
Invest in Strategic Planning
Construction sector leader Hill has long championed the importance of strategic planning in successful development. Construction company leaders and their teams may use project visualization, feasibility and market analysis, in-depth financial forecasting, and other strategic planning staples to create clear and fully tailored road maps to success.
Coupled with honest and open communication and underpinned by a safety-first approach, strategic planning promotes establishing and maintaining both short- and long-term goals. Leaders, including Hill and his peers, know beyond all doubt that a clear picture and achievable goals set projects up for maximum success on day one.
Elsewhere, by assessing a project’s finer financial, legal, and technical elements at the outset, the likes of construction industry expert and Missouri native Jerald Lee Hill and their teams are granted reassurance surrounding a given project’s ultimate viability, even years into the future.
Hill states that when leaders focus on establishing long-term goals, they create concrete timelines, milestones, and key performance indicators that their teams can work toward. With that, they’re perfectly and collectively positioned to reap the rewards of success by delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the highest standards.
