If you work in construction, then you will inevitably find yourself having to manage subcontractors at some point in your career. Construction is not an industry that lends itself to single-business work completion; instead, most companies will work in concert with other specialists in order to achieve their goals.
For an introvert, the management of these subcontractors is always challenging. Your natural reserve can make the process inherently difficult, and you may find that you shy away from contractor management in order to reduce the stress you experience from such a task. However, as mentioned, working in construction will always involve working with subcontractors, so rather than avoiding the task, consider the ideas below in an effort to manage the situation as best you can.
#1 – Do your research
If you wish to limit the amount of time you have to spend actively interacting with subcontractors, then research is the best answer. If you spend time researching exactly the subcontractor you need, then you can keep interactions to a minimum. You should make sure that any contractor you take on has managed to get a contractors license and has plenty of experience. This will give you a better chance of securing the right person for the job the first time round. They’ll be competent and know what they’re doing. If you’re looking for a broad-strokes contractor, then click through websites and look for terms like “comprehensive” in company descriptions; this indicates the contractor in question will take on more generalized roles. However, if you have a niche, specialist task such as earth shoring or ground improvement, take the time to click for more information on niche, specialist subcontractors who specialize in this area. Ideally, you want to know that the subcontractor in question actually performs the work you require prior to contacting them, as this will help to streamline the entire process.
#2 – Use contracts to your advantage
Contracts can be as expansive as you need them to be, so use this opportunity to stipulate a range of requirements that you may otherwise have had to insist on in person. This provides the opportunity to ensure both you and the contractor are on the same page right from the start, and should also eliminate a need for a constant dialog between both parties. To do this, add sections to your contract that meet “what if” questions, such as “what if the project is delayed due to bad weather?” – by having this outlined from the start, you can minimize the need for personal interaction should such a scenario develop.
#3 – Group together tasks
As an introvert, you will likely experience difficulty interacting with others, especially on an ad-hoc basis. To combat this, set aside an hour from your day to go through all queries, discussions, and related activities with your subcontractors. When that hour is complete, all further questions or discussions can wait until the next day to be resolved. You can even make this clear to subcontractors in the contract, as mentioned above: just insert a clause saying you will only be available between 10am and 11am, and all queries will only be answered during these time periods. This ensures that all relevant queries can be answered in a timely fashion, and guarantees you the freedom to go about your usual work duties for much of the working day.
In conclusion
Hopefully, you will find the tips for managing subcontractors in the construction industry useful; good luck!
