Tag: how project managers add value

How Project Managers Add Value to Commercial Construction

If you are planning a commercial construction or renovation project, you may be wondering what abilities to look for in the project manager you will be working with. Here are the key attributes and ways that we at Headwaters Construction Inc. have discovered that the best project managers add value to the projects they oversee.

Laser-Focus on Customer Needs

The ultimate test of any new commercial construction or renovation project is whether it meets the needs of the client. We have learned that the best project managers add value by finding out what a client actually needs as opposed to what they want. These project managers go to great lengths to know their client’s business. They also spend a lot of time talking to the client in order to grasp what they really need. When those needs are clear, the project manager or retail general contractor unwaveringly set out to deliver on them.

They Put Together a Great Team

A project is only as good as the team that has been assembled to execute it. The most successful project managers are well aware of this fact. They go to great lengths to assemble and nurture the best team. These project managers understand each team member’s motivators and strengths, and they coach them to achieve their full potential. Great project managers view themselves as facilitators or enablers, and they do what they can to eliminate obstacles standing in the way of their teams.

They Delegate

The best project managers don’t attempt to micromanage or do everything on their own. Instead, they start off with the best team and trust that team to deliver their best in their different specialties. The project manager, therefore, frees themselves to attend to big-picture aspects while also overseeing the project team. In this way, everything works seamlessly to deliver great outcomes, at a great price, and within the projected timelines.

Questioning the Status Quo

No great project manager is content to do things in the same old way that things have always been done. Their desire to deliver added value to clients constantly drives them to challenge their teams to find new ways to get around project challenges. For example, during a tilt-up construction project, the project manager can push the team to deliver unparalleled energy efficiency that is far beyond what other similar projects have delivered to their clients. By constantly pushing the envelope, great project managers are constantly adding value to every project that they oversee.

They Have an Eye on the Big Picture

Here is where the best project managers stand head and shoulders above all others. Great project managers aren’t simply satisfied with meeting the budgetary, time, and utility aspects of the project. They go farther by making sure that the project will offer value to clients in the immediate and long-term sustainable. The project manager makes it a point to deliver a project that meets the strategic objectives of the client, and they do this consistently. At Headwaters Construction Inc., we are focused on just that because we know that the capital outlay required to pull off a retail renovation or a new tilt-up construction project can only be justified by delivering a project that will be relevant now and in the future for the client.

They Manage Risks, Problems and Scope Changes

Risks, problems, and scope changes can bring a project to a standstill if the project manager isn’t equipped to manage these situations proactively. The best project managers anticipate risks and prepare their teams to mitigate those risks. They also monitor issues that arise and marshal the team to deal with them effectively. Successful project managers also interrogate all scope changes and find the best way to implement those changes, so that project budgets, timelines, and quality aren’t affected adversely.

They Deliver What They Promise

The acid test for any project manager is whether they actually make good on their promises. Credibility is important because a lot is at stake for all project stakeholders. This is especially true for the client and the suppliers or contractors who work with the project manager. It is, therefore, important for the project manager to be reputable and credible. At times, this calls for turning away some projects or assignments if the project manager isn’t sure that they can deliver what is required. At Headwaters Construction Inc., we have set our focus on commercial construction and renovation work. So, we firmly but politely turn down any residential project sent our way. By doing this, we have excelled at delivering excellent service to our commercial clients.

If you are looking for a commercial construction or renovation project manager/contractor, look no farther than Headwaters Construction Inc. Our long list of satisfied clients in Washington State, California, and Oregon is a testament to our commitment to delivering the utmost value on every project that we undertake. So, give us a call today!