Workflow Efficiency – Why It Matters and How You Can Implement It

When it comes to successfully completing a project, the name of the game is efficiency. This concept applies to all parts of the process – your budget, your style of teamwork, and even safety concerns. This especially applies to the workflow on your team. If you lack efficient workflow, it trickles down into every part of your project. But with the right workflow in place, you will find yourself on the path to success. Read on to learn why workflow efficiency is an essential part of your plan.

 

It meets demands

 

The first step that any efficient team needs to take is to create a plan. Not just a plan for the job (although that is critical) – you need to have a plan to establish the workflow for your team. This will allow you to not only have a clear understanding of what steps need to take place in which order, but it will ensure that you meet the demands of every project you manage.

 

Your efficient workflow also requires you to plan for the future – the scope of the project, the budget, and the projected timeline are examples of ways your build will benefit from having a clear plan in place. It may seem trivial, but taking the time to actually write or create a visual aid for the workflow on your team will go a long way in facilitating understanding for everyone.

 

The bottom line of all of this planning is that it allows you to deliver your part of the job in a timely and professional manner. You eliminate the “what-ifs” as well as the questions over what happens next. Find a flow that works for your team and implement it with communication and visual aids.

 

It allows time for quality control

 

You don’t just want to get the job done – you want it done well, and you want your name associated with professional, efficient projects. This means you need to take extra steps to ensure that every part of the job is being done as it should be and on the right timeline.

 

Creating an efficient workflow is the first step in keeping tabs on the quality of your project. For instance, whose job is it to communicate with your construction management company about any questions or concerns? How often does your team meet to make sure they are all up to date on the newest developments? Establishing a standard for these types of questions saves you time when you need answers quickly, and also helps you determine when an issue may arise before it becomes too big (or expensive) to handle.

 

When it comes to maintaining the high quality of your services, it’s about checks and balances. Set up a workflow that promotes communication, not only with you but with other team members to ensure that all needs are being met across the board. Get input from your team on concerns they have or ideas they think will improve the quality of your work. Once you’ve established a workflow that everyone understands, you can spend less time putting out metaphorical fires and more time on the details of your project.

 

It Allows for Autonomy

 

You don’t want to be a micromanager. As the project lead, you are too busy to deal with every single question that may pop up during a project, and you want to foster innovation and independence in your team members. Allowing them to find their own place within the workflow is a great way to create even more efficiency.

 

For instance, some team members may be tasked with giving you updates from various sources – your construction manager, the city in which you’re building, or the investors who are funding the job. Your workflow has established that everyone will give you updates every Friday by 12:00 PM, but this is also an opportunity to allow for some autonomy. One team member may send you an email, or another may decide to text you the information. Some team members will prefer to have the update to you by Thursday night, while others will be hitting the “send” button at exactly 11:59. As long as you have what you need, you can allow your team to work in the manner that suits them best – and, subsequently, makes them the most efficient.

 

It’s still important to set firm deadlines and establish which steps need to be taken – a workflow that is too loose isn’t really a workflow at all. But as you get to know your team, you can begin to form a process that allows each of you to do your jobs well. It may take some time to hit your stride with a workflow as you maneuver through different types of projects. But once you establish a baseline, you will find that your work is not only more efficient, but that everyone involved is more satisfied with the build.

 

About Impact Construction Management

Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, Impact Construction Management is a full-service construction management firm. Founded by Louis Buonaiuto and Richard Bowlin, Impact Construction Management has been managing construction projects for clients throughout the Midwest and South for over 10 years. From our very first project to today, our focus has been on delivering the results our clients want by providing responsive service, up-front pricing and the highest-quality workmanship.