Think about this for a moment:

According to Autodesk, 52% of construction rework is caused by poor project data and miscommunication.

It’s therefore evident that communication plays a significant role in ensuring the quality of work in the construction industry. In addition, efficient and quality construction site communication promotes safety and ensures timely project deliveries.

Let’s now look at some of the steps you can take to improve site communication.

#1. Take Advantage of Technology

Technological innovations have introduced practical solutions to decades-long challenges in construction. For instance, collaborative software allows your team to have timely and accurate information hence improving decision making. Even better, your employees are able to keep track of a project’s progress such that everyone knows what needs to be done.

Not only do the online tools help save time, these innovations also foster discussion and debate. In other words, anyone on the team can voice their opinions and offer insights in real-time.

Altogether, technology not only promotes equality, but also ensures that every stakeholder has an intimate understanding of a project’s objectives.

#2. Have Clear Communication Chains

A well documented communication chain is the foundation of a successful construction project. You need to get the right information to the right people at the right time if you want to run a safe and efficient construction site.

Knowing who to go to in the event of a mishap can make all the difference in construction site safety. And that’s why all team members should have a point of contact to go to whenever they have a question or concern about their job. If a worker doesn’t know where to find answers, they’re more likely to go ahead with a procedure that could compromise their safety or that of other employees.

#3. Regularly Train Your Employees

Adequate training should be done whenever there are new procedures and processes to be followed. In addition to informing your staff of such initiatives, you may also need to incorporate refresher programmes whenever your employees are not following the instructions properly. This way you will improve your personnel’s confidence and they will make fewer mistakes.

#4. Ensure There’s Two-way Communication

In your construction project, top-down communication shouldn’t be the only way information flows. The staff on the ground need to have ways to promptly communicate any concerns to the management so that they can be addressed in a timely manner. When employees feel that their managers value their feedback and can address their individual problems, they are more likely to feel connected.

A great strategy is to hold regular meetings. Yes, online tools are important but sometimes face-to-face meetings are necessary. For instance, it’s quicker and more effective in case there’s a disagreement because conversing with someone who disagrees with you over text or email can be cumbersome and inefficient.

Lastly, regular meetings are the key to building stronger relationships, encourage more team participation and there’s better non-verbal understanding.

#5. Embrace Custom Audiences

It makes no sense to overwhelm your construction team with too much information that’s irrelevant to them. In some cases, the message being conveyed is only relevant to the top management. In other cases, the announcement such as a delivery delay or revised time frames is only relevant to a team working in a specific site.

All in all, a targeted communications approach is powerful.

Are You Now Ready to Step Up?

Construction projects involve significant financial and time investments and it only takes inefficient communication to dampen these efforts or even worse, compromise the health and safety of your employees.

All you need to do is make a commitment to improve the communication in your construction company because it will ultimately help to deliver better results for everyone. You will not only build better relationships but you will also deliver a successful construction project.

It’s that simple.