by Neal Flesner
In a recent Construction Partnering session, I was discussing the successes of a $1.4-billion mega project as they embarked on the last 10 percent of construction, commissioning and turnover. “What was the difference between this project and others,” I asked. One of the key leaders did not hesitate, “It is a Culture of Accountability.”
Accountability is a key tactic born out of partnering sessions that project teams use to reach the project’s goals. Nevertheless, this response intrigued me. Why was this differentiation top of mind? How was this culture fostered? How was it maintained?
Accountability is paramount for productivity and successful project completion in the construction industry. Therefore, it’s crucial to instill accountability among members of the project team. To achieve this, it’s essential to understand the specific steps for developing a culture of accountability on your project.
In this article, we explore what a culture of accountability means in the construction industry and outline nine steps for fostering this environment.
What is a culture of accountability in construction?
A culture of accountability in construction is an organizational environment where construction professionals are held responsible for completing tasks, collaborating to achieve goals, and resolving challenges. This culture involves setting clear expectations, goal-oriented communication, and robust leadership.
Establishing a culture of accountability can yield several benefits for your construction team and project, including:
Enhancing trust: Open communication fosters trust among construction professionals and between teams and project leaders, contributing to job satisfaction and heightened productivity.
Boosting morale: Accountability to peers fosters a sense of camaraderie among construction professionals, elevating morale by improving communication and collaboration on construction projects.
Increasing productivity: Workplace accountability sets clear expectations, including the importance of the task and consequences of incomplete work. This understanding encourages construction professionals to feel more engaged with their tasks, leading to increased productivity.
Improving work quality: A culture of accountability prompts construction professionals to become more invested in their work and accountable to their colleagues, positively impacting the overall quality of construction projects.
Fostering innovation: Construction professionals, confident in their roles and responsibilities within an accountable culture, are more inclined to explore creative solutions, driving innovation in construction practices.
How is a culture of accountability created?
As a leader in the construction industry, there are specific actions you can take to cultivate a culture of accountability among your team. Here are nine steps to foster accountability in the construction workplace:
- Define expectations:
Clearly outline expectations for team members, encompassing the mission, vision, and values of the organization. Specify standards for behavior, effort, results, and individual roles within the construction team. Communicate the importance of each expectation and explain its relevance to the success of your construction project.
- Set specific goals:
Establish robust construction goals using the SMART method—ensuring they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely. This provides construction professionals with a clear understanding of what they should strive for in their roles. - Monitor progress:
Regularly assess progress toward construction goals by establishing and pulling related metrics to conduct data analysis. Adjust goals or provide support to construction professionals as needed based on the data captured. - Encourage commitment:
Foster a sense of work commitment among construction professionals by holding each other accountable. Emphasize the importance of engagement with the team and project goals to enhance productivity. - Communicate consequences and rewards:
Clearly articulate the consequences of not meeting construction expectations to motivate professionals and ensure accountability in completing their responsibilities. Tailor motivational approaches based on individual team members. - Showcase construction leadership:
Demonstrate effective construction leadership by setting an example for your team. Develop leadership skills specific to the construction industry, emphasizing role modeling, frequent and effective communication, diverse motivational strategies, and continuous learning. - Take responsibility for mistakes:
Adopt a transparent approach for taking responsibility and learning from mistakes. Encourage prompt acknowledgement of errors and develop actionable plans to rectify and prevent them from recurring. Communicate the resolution process to build trust that fosters a solutions-oriented environment with a “failing forward” mindset.
- Gather feedback:
Maintain an open line of communication with construction team members to encourage feedback and discussion of challenges. This ensures mutual accountability and fosters a collaborative environment. - Hire accountable construction professionals:
When recruiting new construction team members, prioritize individuals who demonstrate accountability, collaboration, a failing forward mindset and problem-solving skills. Use interviews to assess these traits and build a construction team that contributes to a culture of accountability.
By implementing strategic tactics to enhance accountability on construction projects, you can effectively cultivate a culture of accountability within your construction workplace, leading to improved project outcomes and team dynamics.
