Real-Life Communication -- Solution
Here is what you say in the memo:
To: All employees of Phoenix Construction, Ltd.
It has been a great year here at Phoenix! We've completed four new projects, including an elementary school. I know some of you have children who will be attending the school in the fall.
When delays came up, we all worked hard to finish the job as quickly as possible. This would never have been possible without the hard effort of each and every one of you.
Now that fall is coming, the work is slowing down. I know we all hope there will be plenty of good contracts to keep us busy next year. One way to help this happen is to make sure we look good in the eyes of the public.
How can we do this? By putting our best foot forward. A construction site is the first contact the public has with a construction firm. Let's make it a positive one.
We all know how frustrating it can be when there are delays or things go wrong on the site. But when people see us swearing and spitting, they get the wrong idea. It's easy to forget how we look to other people who don't understand how hard this job really is.
Let's act together to show them that Phoenix is a great place to work!
Yours,
Jack Foster, Phoenix Construction Ltd.
Good communication skills are critical for a construction manager, says Colin Lawson. He is co-owner of a firm that specializes in construction management.
"Communication skills are a window into the mental capabilities of a project or construction manager," he says.
"If [a construction manager] cannot come to the point clearly or express a concept or idea clearly, then he or she cannot run a project team meeting effectively or economically."