"People who take their work seriously are wonderful."
I imagine that’s what most people in Japan think.
Of course, working hard is a good thing. However, in the construction industry, working too hard can sometimes be a fatal mistake.
Let me tell you about an incident that made me feel that way.
Two Mid-Career Hires with Completely Opposite Personalities
A few years ago, two mid-career hires joined the company. Neither had much experience in the industry, and they were the same age; the only difference between them was their personalities.
Their personalities were amusingly contrasting: A, to put it nicely, was cheerful; to put it less kindly, he was laid-back. The other guy, B, was the complete opposite—quiet and hardly ever joking.
As for his work, A didn’t care what others thought; he left the office right on time, and even when he was scolded at work, he didn’t bat an eye. A few hours later, he’d already moved on and seemed completely unfazed, so his reputation at the company wasn’t very good.
On the other hand, B worked silently overtime every day, listened attentively to everyone’s instructions at work, and was highly regarded by the company.
...So, which of them—A or B—became the site manager first?
Who was the first to become site manager?
Of these two, the one who was the first to make his debut as a site manager was...
It was “A-kun.”
While this case study may not apply to everyone, there is much to learn from the experiences of these two individuals. Let’s take a look at the records of their growth to see what factors were actually at play.
A's Career Path to Becoming a Site Manager
Although A didn't have a good reputation within the company, he was exceptionally well-liked by the craftsmen and people outside the company. The reason for this was that, thanks to his naturally cheerful personality, he was able to win people over effortlessly.
Because he was lazy by nature, he often asked people for favors, but he had a natural knack for getting them to agree to his requests.
Furthermore, A believed that even the time spent worrying about things he didn’t understand was a waste. He reasoned that if worrying would only extend his work hours, it would be faster to just ask his boss—even if it meant getting scolded—so he didn’t hesitate to keep turning to his boss to resolve any issues he encountered.
Although Mr. A was seen as someone who never worked overtime and didn’t take any initiative at the company, one day a subcontractor specifically requested that he be appointed as site manager. The company’s upper management was surprised to hear this, but since it was a request from a subcontractor, they decided to send him to the site as site manager.
It was during A’s fifth year at the company. He seemed surprised himself and admitted he lacked confidence, but with his natural cheerfulness, he made full use of the on-site team’s strengths to successfully complete the project and build his career.
B's Career Path to Becoming Site Manager
On the other hand, B was held in exceptionally high regard at the company. He stayed late every day, and those around him expected that once he earned his certification, he would quickly be promoted to site manager. However, despite his conscientious nature, he had one critical weakness.
It was that tendency to overthink everything on his own. Whenever he hit a wall he couldn’t figure out, he was the type to keep mulling it over by himself, trying to solve it on his own. As a result, no one noticed not only his anguish but also how slow his growth actually was.
Although he was diligent, as a result, he had not acquired any of the practical skills needed for construction planning or site management. Even after gaining eight years of experience and finally reaching the point where he was set to be appointed site manager, he remained modest, insisting it was still too soon for him; in the end, it wasn’t until ten years had passed that he made his debut as a site manager.
Being serious isn't the only thing that matters.
What I took away from these two people’s experiences is that being serious isn’t the only way to be right.
I certainly don’t think we should live in a world where hardworking people get the short end of the stick, but when I look around the construction industry, I get the sense that, if anything, it’s the bold, go-getter types who are more likely to succeed and advance their careers.
Just between us, people who are really making their mark as site managers often have a pretty laid-back personality. In this industry, what matters most might be how you can grow while doing your job your own way, without being bound by conventional wisdom.
