Characteristics of Site Supervisors Who Are Well-Liked by Subcontractors
What characteristics do site supervisors have that make subcontractors want to work with them again? In this article, I’ve summarized the common traits I’ve observed among site supervisors who are well-liked by subcontractors.
The instructions are precise and easy to understand.
For the subcontracted craftsmen, their greatest wish is probably that the work on-site runs smoothly.
A site supervisor who gives precise, efficient instructions on-site is a great source of reassurance, so they tend to be well-liked by the workers.
Outstanding support and thoughtfulness
Many well-respected site supervisors bring juice on hot days or take a moment to look the workers in the eye and say, “Be sure to take a break.” It is through these small gestures of consideration and communication that relationships of trust are built.
It’s always nice to have someone who cares about you, no matter how old you are. There’s a huge difference in the level of trust between those who show concern for the people doing the toughest work on the front lines and those who don’t.
He's good at managing the budget.
I suspect that subcontractors’ main grievance against site supervisors is that they are not compensated for the additional costs incurred due to changes in construction methods and the like. To break this deadlock, the key will be whether the site supervisor can secure additional funding after consulting with the client.
To secure additional funding, you must be able to present a solid rationale and specific figures showing exactly how much the project will cost. It’s no exaggeration to say that these negotiations will determine whether you can secure the additional funding.
People who are skilled at negotiation can secure a solid budget, which ultimately allows them to pay their subcontractors without any hard feelings. In business, too, when the money runs out, so does the relationship.
Charming
A friendly demeanor is an essential skill not only for site supervisors but for anyone in the workforce. A supervisor who is always friendly and willing to sincerely apologize for their mistakes will often find that subcontractors and partner companies are willing to help out when they do make a mistake.
Conversely, if you lack charm and consistently act unfriendly, when your mistakes are discovered, you’re likely to be treated coldly by those around you and find yourself in a situation where no one is willing to help you.
In other words, when you make a mistake, you can tell how others perceive you based on their reactions.
There's a good atmosphere on site
It is often said that the atmosphere on a construction site reflects the site supervisor’s competence. Indeed, having worked on various sites over the years, I’ve found that the atmosphere varies greatly depending on the site supervisor.
If the site supervisor is on edge, that tension is immediately felt on the job site, and the atmosphere there becomes tense all at once. While I don’t think being too lax is good either, on job sites where the atmosphere is terrible, it’s highly likely that the site supervisor and the subcontractors aren’t getting along.
――Since I’m a site supervisor, I want to be the kind of supervisor who makes the subcontractors think, “I’d like to work with him again.”
Especially when working in rural areas, there are often only a few subcontractors, and the same group of people frequently rotates among job sites within the prefecture. This means that the impression subcontractors have of you can also affect the work itself.
I want to become a site supervisor who is trusted by everyone around me.
