Team management, culture and leadership

Top 5 skills for construction project managers in 2023

Check out these five essential attributes construction project managers should have to be successful on every job.

Onsite constuction worker handshake with blueprints.

What is a construction project manager?

A construction project manager is a professional who uses specialized project management skills to oversee the planning, design and completion of a project.

Great project manager skills ensure success and a high return on investment. And, according to Wrike, a task management platform, construction project managers should be responsible for aspects such as pre-design planning, resource allocation and progress monitoring. So, what are the most essential skills construction project managers should have to ensure success in these areas?

1. Effective communication

Communication skills lie at the heart of every successful business, and your construction company is no exception. Without communication, skilled workers would be unable to perform to the best of their ability and a project’s progress could be completely derailed.

A successful project manager can effectively use methods such as construction software and in-person meetings to communicate their ideas, make decisions and resolve issues. They should communicate frequently and understand the necessity of tailoring their project updates in a way that is informative and understood by your team as well as your clients.

2. Expert delegation

It goes without saying that construction projects cannot be completed by one person. Construction project managers must understand the importance of teamwork and be able to correctly delegate tasks to skilled workers and subcontractors throughout the timeline of each project.

Delegation of job site tasks will instill trust between your project manager and the individual workers they’re overseeing. The best project managers delegate work, allowing the team to complete tasks while still remaining approachable when issues arise. It’s impossible for project managers to oversee every detail of the construction project, so building that trust and bond between the team helps to ensure the health of your projects.

3. Top-notch organization

Your construction project manager skills should include the ability to prioritize every aspect of a job. Everything is constantly changing from day to day, so organizational skills are essential for keeping it all straight. There can be discrepancies in available materials and resources, requiring frequent adjustments and assessment of a project’s status.

Being focused on the end goal, continuing to get work done despite setbacks and using the available resources is essential. Staying organized with proper documentation, daily logs and frequent communication will help construction project managers prioritize tasks appropriately for the duration of a project.

4. Essential problem-solving

While it would be nice to believe that nothing ever goes wrong on construction projects, it’s usually wishful thinking. That’s why it’s best to always have a backup plan in the event that something doesn’t go as planned.

Although it’s impossible to predict every worst-case scenario, project managers need to have the ability to think on their feet and adapt. They should have the skills needed to keep projects going and avoid delays even when issues arise. Problem-solving skills are crucial for continued progress and meeting deadlines.

5. Big-picture mindset

While tracking the daily progress of projects, a successful construction project manager should also focus on the big picture. Yes, the little details are important and inevitable mishaps can be discouraging, but that shouldn’t deter the project manager from staying on track to reach the end goal.

There should never be avoidance or procrastination when it comes to tackling the toughest parts of any construction job. An effective project manager will keep the right attitude to take on large goals and break them into manageable tasks that can be driven by results.

Keep your construction project managers on track with Buildertrend

If you’d like to learn more about how Buildertrend can help your construction project managers and team members be more successful, schedule a demo today!

About The Author

Chelsea Cole headshot

Chelsea Cole Chelsea Cole is a senior content marketing specialist at Buildertrend

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