John Kenney, CPRC, CEO, Cotney Consulting Group
A crew leader (foreman), superintendent or project manager is usually promoted to supervisory positions based on technical skills. However, essential management, leadership and administrative skills are required to be an effective supervisor. In this article, we will
explore the essential skills needed to empower your front line supervisors, yielding more engaged crews, better safety and quality, efficient projects, fulfilled clients and increased bottom-line profit. Unfortunately, most companies do not effectively ensure that these
supervisors have the education and training to become effective and efficient in their roles.
Front line supervisors are a vital link between senior management and the workforce. They manage productivity, quality and safety outcomes by organizing, overseeing, directing and controlling the crew and workflows on the jobsite. To accomplish this, they must be effective communicators, build beneficial working relationships, capable planners, make good decisions and solve problems effectively. These skills cannot be learned solely on the job. Company leadership must determine the strengths and weaknesses of
these skills and devise a plan to provide the necessary training to make them effective management team members.
Leadership is critical to success. It involves facilitating the execution of your company’s strategy through alignment, winning interactions and expanding the capabilities of others. Developing these individuals boosts their ability to perform as leaders within your company. Influential leaders need competencies in:
■ Good mental judgment
■ Analytical and strategic thinking
■ Emotional intelligence
■ Understanding team dynamics
■ Technical insight
■ Business comprehension.
Influential leaders are knowledgeable, confident, decisive, proactive, persistent and capable of setting direction, influencing others, building strong relationships and being supportive.
To successfully manage, a crew leader must communicate effectively, make decisions, give directions, set goals, provide feedback
and recognize good performance. Depending on their knowledge, skill and experience, crew leaders may direct, delegate or discuss
when interacting with direct reports to accomplish workflow tasks.
Management focuses on performance and production, hinging on effective execution. Effective execution depends on senior
management support and leadership to develop the skills of front line managers and a motivated workforce. Celebrating wins and learning from mistakes creates a better outcome for your customers.
Effective Communication Skills – Employees spend over three-quarters of their time in some form of social situation. Poor communication skills can lead to significant liability for the company, especially for supervisors who do not communicate effectively.
Effective communication involves ensuring that the message is correctly expressed and understood.
Planning and Directing Production – Planning is crucial for accomplishing activities. Project planning is macro, while production planning is micro. It establishes methods, assigns personnel, moves materials to the workforce and assembles pieces. Production planning should involve crew leaders who provide oversight, quality and safety and engage the crew fully with the plan. Effective planning reduces risk, minimizes disruption, increases efficiency and lowers costs, resulting in safer operations and more bottom-line profit.
Directing – When assigning tasks or providing guidance, the crew leader must give clear directions on goals and objectives. Effective communication is critical, ensuring everyone understands the expectations and the importance of accomplishing the task safely within the budgeted time.
Delegating – Effective delegation is essential for meeting production goals. It involves understanding the relationship between authority, responsibility and accountability. Proper task assignments are crucial for productivity, quality and safety. The crew leader must ensure the workers perform tasks efficiently and effectively, guiding if necessary.
Follow-Up and Expediting – Follow-up and expediting ensures timely production and submission of information and documents and delivery of materials, equipment and subcontractors. Effective follow-up processes reduce disruptions and lower costs.
Problem Solving and Decision Making – Problem solving uses analytical thinking to find the root cause of issues, aiming to bring operations to optimal performance. Decision making involves choosing the best course of action from various options. It requires judgment and is often the result of the problem solving process.
Developing, Coaching and Employee Engagement – Developing and coaching are transformative leadership competencies that require building awareness, commitment and practice. Effective coaching has a lasting positive impact on performance.
Employee Engagement – Engaged employees are enthusiastic about their work and act in the company’s best interests. Engagement leads to high productivity and operational efficiency, increasing profitability.
Motivation and Performance – Motivating employees to perform at their best involves understanding their needs and aligning them with organizational goals. Recognizing and rewarding good performance fosters a positive work environment. Risk and Safety Management Managing risks and ensuring safety are paramount in front line supervision. Implementing safety protocols and conducting regular training sessions can significantly reduce accidents and injuries on the jobsite.
Working Effectively with the Team – Teamwork is crucial for the success of any project. Supervisors should foster a collaborative environment, encourage open communication and resolve conflicts promptly to maintain a harmonious workplace.
Active Listening – Active listening involves paying full attention to the speaker, understanding their message and responding thoughtfully. It builds trust and improves communication within the team.
Conflict Resolution – Effective conflict resolution skills help maintain a positive work environment. Supervisors should address conflicts promptly and fairly, ensuring all parties feel heard and respected.
Time Management – Good time management is essential for meeting deadlines and maintaining productivity. Supervisors should prioritize tasks, delegate effectively and manage their time to ensure smooth project execution.
In conclusion, empowering front line supervisors with these essential skills leads to more engaged crews, better safety and quality standards, efficient projects, satisfied clients and increased profitability. Investing in their education and training is crucial for the success of your organization.
John Kenney, CPRC has over 50 years of experience in the roofing industry. He started his career by working as a roofing apprentice at a family business in the Northeast and worked his way up to operating multiple Top 100 Roofing Contractors. As CEO, John is intimately familiar with all aspects of roofing production, estimating and operations. During his tenure in the industry, John ran business units associated with delivering excellent workmanship and unparalleled customer service while ensuring his company’s
strong net profits before joining Cotney Consulting Group. If you would like any further information on this or another subject, you can contact John at jkenney@cotneyconsulting.com.
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