How Short Term Managers Can Impact a Construction Site

Summary: Interim managers have the potential to change the overall way a construction project is accomplished, and even improve a company’s way of handling future projects.

The role of an interim short term manager within the construction industry is to come in and immediately impact the job site. Whether it’s to improve efficiency or satisfy other aspects that simply are not working, these specialists can be impactful and ultimately worth the investment.

The Hiring Process

Prior to taking the first manager you find, it is crucial to conduct a thorough interview process that covers your needs, wants, and must-haves. Every project will likely have numerous candidates from all types of interim short term management services, but making a sound judgement call on the right one can impact the entire construction project.

Asking your basic questions about background, experience, and expectations may provide an indicator on who would fit best. However, you may want to include other questions that cover other areas as well such as how the manager would change the current situation if he or she was currently in the role. Not only should you bounce ideas back and forth, but it may be important to get a solid understanding on what this individual can bring to your company.

The Role of Communication

Without direct and adequate communication between yourself and the short term manager, the whole ordeal that you went through would be a squandered waste. It is absolutely necessary that the prospect on board can communicate thoroughly with your team and yourself.

It may be one of the most underrated aspects of looking for a short term manager, but it remains one of the most important. Keep in mind, the success of your project may hinge on the impact that the individual can bring. Therefore, it is crucial that the both of you share mutual interests and perspectives.

Often times, managers and owners will refuse to get along due to a conflict of interests. This can pose a major threat to any project, but the blame shouldn’t be placed solely on the manager. At times, the owner may be stubborn and want to pursue the project in one way, while failing to see the repercussions.

A short term manager that is experienced, like Lyle Charles from Lyle Charles Consulting, will often relay ideas that cover all aspects of the project itself, rather than simply agreeing to everything that the owner wants. The ideology behind bringing in someone new is obtaining a fresh perspective and seeing new avenues that can be taken, without sacrificing a multitude of necessities such as money for instance. By hiring the right individual, these needs can be met and even improved upon.