Here's how you can enhance communication by utilizing active listening skills as a construction manager.
Effective communication is the backbone of any successful construction project. As a construction manager, you are the linchpin that holds various project aspects together, and your ability to listen actively can significantly improve interactions with your team, stakeholders, and clients. Active listening is not just hearing words but fully understanding the message being communicated. It involves paying close attention, asking clarifying questions, and providing feedback that shows you are engaged in the conversation. By honing these skills, you can foster a more collaborative environment, preempt misunderstandings, and ensure that your project runs smoothly.
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Flora Fang-Yu L.Renewable Energy & Transportation Specialist | Founder & Chief Content Creator at EngineerWithFlora.com | Construction…
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‘Lade OgunlajaUN Women UK Delegate for CSW68 | Project Manager | Civil Engineer (R.COREN) | WiC Ambassador | Girls Under Construction…
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Hany Elmancy, MSc, BSC, SFC, SSYB, PE, PMP, MBASenior Program Control - PMO
Active listening is rooted in empathy, which means putting yourself in another person's shoes to understand their perspective. In construction management, this could mean empathizing with a subcontractor's concerns about the timeline or a team member's suggestions for safety improvements. By showing genuine interest and concern for their viewpoints, you encourage open dialogue and build trust. This rapport can lead to more honest and productive conversations, as team members feel their contributions are valued and taken seriously.
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‘Lade Ogunlaja
UN Women UK Delegate for CSW68 | Project Manager | Civil Engineer (R.COREN) | WiC Ambassador | Girls Under Construction Ambassador👷♀️| 🏡 Exploring Innovative Living Solutions 🌱 | Sustainable Alternative Communities
By demonstrating sincere comprehension and consideration for the viewpoints of team members, active empathy improves communication. As a construction manager, respect their opinions and sentiments and give careful thought to any issues they may have. Team members are more likely to discuss ideas and problems when there is trust and transparency fostered by this method. In the end, improved project outcomes and team morale are the result of active empathy, which fosters a positive atmosphere conducive to successful communication.
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Hany Elmancy, MSc, BSC, SFC, SSYB, PE, PMP, MBA
Senior Program Control - PMO
As a construction expert, I can contribute to this by actively empathizing with team members to foster trust and openness. Empathetic Responses: Respond to team members' concerns with understanding and compassion, acknowledging their feelings and perspectives. Example: When a team member expresses frustration about project delays, respond with empathy by acknowledging their feelings and offering support.
To avoid miscommunication, it's crucial to clarify and confirm the information received. After a discussion, summarize the key points and ask questions to ensure that you have understood everything correctly. This practice not only demonstrates that you were actively listening but also helps to confirm that everyone is on the same page. In the fast-paced construction environment, where details matter, this step can prevent costly errors and delays.
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Hany Elmancy, MSc, BSC, SFC, SSYB, PE, PMP, MBA
Senior Program Control - PMO
Leveraging my construction expertise, I can streamline communication by ensuring information is clarified and confirmed. Summarize Key Points: Summarize discussions to ensure mutual understanding and alignment. Confirm Understanding: Encourage team members to confirm their understanding by asking clarifying questions. Example: After discussing project requirements with a subcontractor, summarize the key deliverables and ask if they align with their understanding.
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‘Lade Ogunlaja
UN Women UK Delegate for CSW68 | Project Manager | Civil Engineer (R.COREN) | WiC Ambassador | Girls Under Construction Ambassador👷♀️| 🏡 Exploring Innovative Living Solutions 🌱 | Sustainable Alternative Communities
Accurate communication is ensured by information that is clarified and verified. In order to ensure knowledge, as a construction manager, reiterate important ideas and pose questions. To make sure that everyone is on the same page, summarize discussions and solicit comments. By doing this, communication becomes clearer and more effective as misconceptions and mistakes are decreased. You can improve team cohesion and ensure proper task execution by maintaining clarity.
Non-verbal cues play a significant role in communication. As a construction manager, your body language should convey that you are attentive and open to the speaker's message. Maintain eye contact, nod in agreement, and lean in slightly to show engagement. These subtle signals can make the speaker feel heard and respected, which is vital for maintaining a positive team atmosphere and can lead to more effective communication overall.
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Hany Elmancy, MSc, BSC, SFC, SSYB, PE, PMP, MBA
Senior Program Control - PMO
In my opinion, paying attention to body language is crucial for enhancing communication effectiveness. Open and Inviting Posture: Maintain open body language to encourage dialogue and collaboration. Active Engagement: Make eye contact and nod to show active listening and engagement. Example: During team meetings, maintain an open posture and make eye contact with speakers to convey attentiveness and respect.
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Albert Bou Fadel
CEO @SmartBarrel.io - Construction | Technology | Hardware | Inventor | Techstars Mentor
Body language is a knowledge that can be acquired by being extremely focused and working with the same period for an extended period of time. It takes hours and days working within a team to start clearly understanding the non-verbal queues. Body language and/or non-verbal communication is extremely powerful especially when 70 to 93% of all communication is non-verbal.
Creating a feedback loop is an essential component of active listening. Encourage your team to share their thoughts and be receptive to their input. After listening, provide constructive feedback that acknowledges their ideas and addresses any concerns. This two-way communication ensures that all parties feel heard and can contribute to solutions, fostering a collaborative work environment that can boost morale and productivity.
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‘Lade Ogunlaja
UN Women UK Delegate for CSW68 | Project Manager | Civil Engineer (R.COREN) | WiC Ambassador | Girls Under Construction Ambassador👷♀️| 🏡 Exploring Innovative Living Solutions 🌱 | Sustainable Alternative Communities
Creating a feedback loop is essential to communication growth over time. Ask team members for feedback on communication efficacy and areas that need work on a regular basis. Give constructive criticism and promote sharing on all sides. This constant communication promotes an environment of openness and respect by assisting in the identification and timely resolution of problems. Strong feedback loops guarantee that communication is efficient and dynamic, which improves team performance as a whole.
Be aware of potential barriers to active listening, such as distractions, preconceived notions, or emotional responses. In the bustling environment of a construction site, it's easy to get distracted by the myriad of tasks at hand. Strive to minimize interruptions during conversations and focus fully on the speaker. Additionally, keep an open mind and refrain from jumping to conclusions before you have all the information.
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Flora Fang-Yu L.
Renewable Energy & Transportation Specialist | Founder & Chief Content Creator at EngineerWithFlora.com | Construction & Product Photography
Barriers come in all forms. Sometimes, listeners use their own personal filter to understand the other person's POV, and vice versa. To avoid that, make sure you consider the listener's POV when you're communicating tasks. Think about how they would do given the circumstances they face. This is a more practical and more pragmatic way to reduce the gaps.
Active listening is a skill that can always be improved. Seek feedback from your peers and team members about your listening habits and be open to making adjustments. Practice active listening in every interaction, whether it's a formal meeting or a casual conversation on the job site. Over time, you'll find that your enhanced communication skills will lead to better project outcomes and stronger relationships with everyone involved in your projects.
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