What a Project Manager at Related Companies Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Construction Industry
Project managers in construction thrive by possessing a "can-do attitude," readily embracing challenges and "faking it till you make it," while simultaneously mastering the balance of accepting new tasks and knowing when to push back. Crucially, a commitment to asking questions, attention to detail, and humility are essential for navigating the complexities and setbacks inherent in the industry.
Communication, Problem-Solving, Resilience, Project Management, Attention to Detail
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Nick Prince
Project Manager
Related Companies
University of Colorado, Boulder
n/a
Political Science, American Studies
Architecture, Construction & Design
Operations and Project Management
Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member
Video Highlights
1. A willingness to ask questions and learn from others is crucial for success in the industry. Contractors are often proud of their work and enjoy sharing their knowledge.
2. A ‘can-do’ attitude and the ability to take on challenges are essential. While it’s important to know your limits and avoid burnout, being proactive and willing to learn is key.
3. Attention to detail and humility are vital. Construction projects rely on precision, and the ability to accept setbacks and keep moving forward is important for success in project management.
Transcript
How do you describe people who typically thrive in your industry?
It's huge. I'll say this all day: don't be afraid to ask questions. It's so important to ask questions and talk to people.
Many contractors are very prideful in their work and love talking about how they install things, how they've mastered their craft, and how they do all these things. When you ask questions, people will often go on and you'll learn something every single day. As long as you ask questions, you'll learn.
Have a "can-do" attitude and be ready for any challenge. If someone says, "Hey, I need you to do this," you've got to be able to step up and handle it. You also have to kind of fake it till you make it. Take on as much as you can, but know when to stop.
Learn to say no and push back so you don't get overloaded and burnt out. You've got to be able to say, "Oh yeah, I can do that. I can handle it," and just see where that takes you. You'll get stuck, but you've got to have the attitude and mindset that you can do it. Things will work out, and people will latch onto that.
As I said before, attention to detail is crucial. There are many small details and little things in construction that can make or break projects.
And humility. You've got to be able to swallow your pride. Sometimes you're going to lose arguments, or propose something that doesn't go your way, and maybe you'll lose some money. But you've got to be able to get up the next day and keep charging at it.
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