Set specific deadlines. Some people work better under a deadline. It communicates more urgency when you say, “I need this done by 3:00 p.m. on Thursday,” than if you say, “Get this done as soon as possible.” Giving someone more time to get a job done rarely improves the performance; instead, more time is spent fussing with details. Keep your deadlines short but reasonable.
Raise the bar. Sometimes employees don’t perform to their potential because no one expects them to. By requiring your people to find effective solutions and praising their performance, you set new standards and reward the behavior you’re trying to instill. Let them know that they are responsible for results, and they’ll respond accordingly.
Encourage efficiency. Often real timesavers and creative solutions come from the staff, not from the top. But unless you encourage new ideas, they’ll never surface. When people see that their solutions are accepted and implemented, you’ll be amazed at how creative they’ll become.
Make urgency fun. There’s a fine line between a dynamic, action-oriented workplace and a stressful, ulcer-producing one. That difference is rooted in management’s attitude. People do miss deadlines, especially when you’re asking them to do more and to pick up the pace. Accept human limitations, while at the same time encouraging results.
Slow demand is no excuse for allowing your construction time to expand. Avoid developing bad habits you’ll just have to overcome later when demand picks up.
Al Trellis, a co-founder of Home Builders Network, has more than 25 years of experience as a custom builder, speaker, and consultant. He can be reached at altrellis@hbnnet.com.
