How Team Cohesion is Key to a Successful Construction Company

In construction, it’s essential for everyone to know their role and to do their individual jobs well. However, if that’s your only focus, you could be missing out on a lot of great opportunities for growth, increased productivity and a better work environment.

Communication with crew members is essential to having a successful construction company. Fostering team cohesion can reduce the risk of human error, build better relationships and improve the overall build on each job. Plus, the more cohesive and communicative your team is, the easier it is to ensure everyone on the job site is safe and on the same page.

Let’s take a closer look at the importance of team cohesion with your crew, what you should regularly be discussing (and why), and how you can create effective and efficient work sites with your team by keeping everyone in the know.

The Importance of Team Cohesion

If everyone is getting their job done, what really makes team cohesion so important? For starters, it ensures everyone on your crew is on the same page. Interpersonal communication is the best way to make sure every person working on a job site knows exactly what needs to be done and what is expected. Your team will start to look at themselves as a unit, rather than as individuals.

This is important for a variety of reasons. First, it shows that you, as a leader, care about your crew’s well-being and want to see them succeed. It builds trust and makes it easier to create an environment where they feel comfortable communicating.

Second, it helps to keep everyone safe. There’s no denying the construction industry can be dangerous. A 2020 study found that construction workers made up 12% of all fatal falls, slips and trips in the workplace. No matter what, your environment should have safety precautions in place and your team should know how to protect themselves. But, greater transparency and frequent communication help to reduce the risk of accidents even more. That might include things like:

• Sending out frequent safety reminders
• Posting more signage
• Delivering clear expectations
• Not assuming any safety precaution is “obvious”
• Using unified workflows or apps

Keeping your team safe should be your top priority, and open communication makes it easier to do.

Discussing Changes and Client Concerns

Not only does team cohesion keep everyone on the same page, but it also helps everyone adapt to changes.

When a new project is started, you have a basic outline to follow that includes deadlines, goals and pacing. However, those factors can change over time based on what your client wants or needs, as well as external or unexpected issues like weather or supply chain problems. When everyone is on the same page, those changes are less likely to become problematic. The more transparent you are about changes and the more you work to keep everyone on the same page, the better your team morale will be.

You can streamline this kind of communication by making sure everyone has access to the right tools and software, offering training and communication programs, prioritizing breaks and respecting a healthy work-life balance. The less stressed your team is, the more likely they’ll be to pay attention and actually want to work together to get the job done – even as goals change.

It’s not uncommon in the construction industry to deal with client concerns, as well. They’re not always easy to handle, especially if a client wants something changed at the last minute or if they’re unhappy about something. A cohesive team with high morale is more likely to work through those difficulties efficiently and quickly, so everyone can get back on track as soon as possible.

Boosting Team Cohesion

So, what can you do to foster team cohesion and build a culture of transparency within your crew?

Most importantly, make sure everyone feels heard and valued. If you know you have the right crew members on board, make sure they know how much they’re appreciated. Empower them by giving certain team members more authority, and work to resolve any conflicts within your crew as quickly as you can.

One of the best ways to boost communication within your crew is to encourage everyone to participate in team-building exercises. There’s no right or wrong way to implement these exercises, but some of the most effective ones include:

• Lifting a heavy object together
• Safety trivia
• A safety treasure hunt
• Community service
• Team challenges

Don’t be afraid to have fun with these activities and make them unique to your crew. You’re in construction, after all, so things like building a LEGO house or creating a structure from popsicle sticks can be a great way to get people working together while using their skills.

Team cohesion can make a big difference in the success of your construction company. The good news? It’s not difficult to create a communicative and transparent environment. Use some of the suggestions here, and remind yourself of the benefits as you move forward with your crew.