Integrating Personalities Into Fixed Schedules Part 1: the three "getters"

The inevitable clash of time versus attitude

In scheduling we tend to look at the controllable tasks in a situation. Usually lead times and task duration. What we fail to focus on is the people we need to build trust in to complete the project. You can expect tasks to be completed in a timely matter and hope for the best but unless you know who is performing the work, you have little to no control. While you cannot be expected to meet and greet each trade worker and laborer involved in your project. Its very important to understand the over all intent and attitude of each person.

Years ago when I was building my first large scale restaurant in Chicago. The owner of the restaurant group made it a point to have dinner with me every time he was in town. We never spoke of the project or timeline but instead we just talked and basically hung out. It wasn't until later that I understood what he was doing. He wasn't sweet talking me or trying to get inside information on the project. He was getting to know my attitude as a person. He did this to better understand what I was communicating to him and how communications reflected the actual progress of the project . Of course at the time I thought he was "Honey potting" me to give him better work.

Knowing the source of information is as important if not more important than the information itself. This particular project had a 7 month timeline and a schedule that would test the durability of many industry professionals. While I displayed confidence in my ability to manage tasks in an efficient way, how was he to know if I was just giving him lip service. He took the time to find out who I was and what I could do in contrast to what I said I could do. This is important in construction, as we mainly rely on individuals we have never met to follow through on our expectations. Expectations versus reality and variables is often overlooked to lack of focus on the real scenario. We lose this focus by starring at the goal and less the process.

As a site Superintendent, I make it a point to know each person on site if not by name; then by action. There are three types of tradesman on a construction sites. The "go-getter" , the "getter-done" and the "done-gettiing". The "go-getter" is always anxious to please and usually takes great pride in their work. The "getter-done" is going to be your clock watcher and will do exactly what they need to do on a daily basis. Then there is the "done-getting", usually they will be your source of contention and infliction with the schedule. They have put their time in and are waiting on the last day of work or the paycheck. Balancing these three types of personality's on a job site is where you can make your bread and butter. how you manage them is based on the time frame, but make no mistake, you need all three of these people to complete the job.