As a construction manager, which is better: someone who pays close attention to detail or someone who takes a more laid-back approach?
What are the pros and cons, and which one is ultimately better suited for construction management? I’ve reflected on this based on my own experience.
The Benefits of Being Detail-Oriented
In construction management, a single mistake can lead to irreversible consequences. Naturally, people who can check their work thoroughly are less likely to make mistakes.
Among the various tasks involved in construction management, paperwork and on-site surveying require a very high degree of precision. For those who consistently perform their work with the utmost care, even in high-stakes situations, they will likely be able to carry out their duties without feeling too much pressure.
For so-called perfectionists, construction management is often a good fit.
The Benefits of Being Carefree
At first glance, people who are a bit careless might seem unsuited for construction management. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t suited for the job.
People who are laid-back really hate detailed work. That’s why they’re often good at delegating tasks to others. In fact, they’re often better at relying on those around them to get the job done than people who are detail-oriented.
Depending on the task, you can either handle it yourself or delegate it to others, allowing you to work efficiently. The ability to delegate tasks is also a very important aspect of construction management.
The Downsides of Being a Perfectionist
The downside of working with someone who pays close attention to detail is that it often takes them a long time to reach a conclusion, which can sometimes cause construction work to stall.
When problems arise during construction, we try our best to resolve them, but we often find ourselves struggling with issues that are too complex to tackle on our own, which leads to a situation where we end up unable to find a solution.
Also, many detail-oriented people are unable to change the way they work. Even when there’s a faster way to get the job done, many of them are convinced that their own method is the right one, so they find it hard to try new approaches.
A lack of flexibility can sometimes lead to arguments when someone else comes along to do similar, detailed work.
The Downsides of Being Careless
The biggest drawback of being careless is, without a doubt, the tendency to make mistakes. Mistakes are evident in many areas, such as forgetting to order materials, failing to arrange for ready-mix concrete, and careless errors in paperwork.
Also, since he hates anything that’s a hassle, even when problems arise on site, he tries to get the job done using the easiest solution—but he often ends up paying the price later for taking the easy way out.
Furthermore, compared to more meticulous contractors, they often submit only the bare minimum of required documents, so they tend to receive lower scores when it comes to bonus points for construction performance evaluations.
――We’ve looked at the pros and cons of both approaches so far, but the bottom line is that either personality type can handle construction management.
I get the impression that companies and industries are looking for people who can handle detailed work, but even those who aren’t good at details can keep things running smoothly on the job if they find their own work style, rely on others when needed, and focus on working efficiently.
In any case, construction site work cannot be done by one person alone. The ability to understand the site personnel and delegate tasks to them is also a crucial skill for a construction manager.
