Chris Darling’s Post

Transitioning from Contract Administrator to Project Manager is one of the hardest career steps in construction. The reason is that the industry is reluctant to give first-timers a go due to the perceived risk. But becoming a PM is achievable if you are prepared to actively manage your career to get there. Here are some things you can do to gain the knowledge and experience to step up: ·     Understudy your Project Manager ie. do the job without the title! Take on as many of your PM’s daily activities as you can. It will give you something to point to having already done that work when you’re looking to step up. Pro tip: get involved in stakeholder engagement, design management, and programme management. ·     Learn what others in your project team do – knowledge is power, as it allows you to understand the 'why' behind what's happening on-site in the construction process beyond the paper trail. ·     Demonstrate your ability to make decisions – after all, this is what a PM does daily. If there’s a problem at work, show your PM that you have a solution for consideration. Even if it’s not actioned, your initiative won’t go unnoticed. ·     Evaluate your current business – is there room for promotion on smaller projects? How many other like-minded CAs are you competing with? Not every company can offer career progression, and if you recognise this, it's best to find somewhere with the career progression opportunities you seek. ·     Be vocal about your plans to step up – be ACTIVE in letting your Manager know you are wanting to progress. No matter how good you are, if you don't make them aware of your goals, chances are they will leave you in the position you're currently in. Put yourself on their radar! #contractadministrator #projectmanager #constructionjobs #constructionindustry #ConstructionPeople #hiring

Transitioning from Contract Administrator to Project Manager is one of the hardest career steps in construction. The reason is that the industry is reluctant to give first-timers a go due to the perceived risk. But becoming a PM is achievable if you are prepared to actively manage your career to get there. Here are some things you can do to gain the knowledge and experience to step up: ·     Understudy your Project Manager ie. do the job without the title! Take on as many of your PM’s daily activities as you can. It will give you something to point to having already done that work when you’re looking to step up. Pro tip: get involved in stakeholder engagement, design management, and programme management. ·     Learn what others in your project team do – knowledge is power, as it allows you to understand the 'why' behind what's happening on-site in the construction process beyond the paper trail. ·     Demonstrate your ability to make decisions – after all, this is what a PM does daily. If there’s a problem at work, show your PM that you have a solution for consideration. Even if it’s not actioned, your initiative won’t go unnoticed. ·     Evaluate your current business – is there room for promotion on smaller projects? How many other like-minded CAs are you competing with? Not every company can offer career progression, and if you recognise this, it's best to find somewhere with the career progression opportunities you seek. ·     Be vocal about your plans to step up – be ACTIVE in letting your Manager know you are wanting to progress. No matter how good you are, if you don't make them aware of your goals, chances are they will leave you in the position you're currently in. Put yourself on their radar! #contractadministrator #projectmanager #constructionjobs #constructionindustry #ConstructionPeople #hiring

Is Hiring a Contractor Right for you? Below is a list of questions which will assist you in establishing if you need to hire a contract project manager: Do you need a Project Manager for a short-term role? Are you under-resourced but don't have enough work to require a full-time role? Do you need big results on a small budget? Do you need results rapidly for a time-sensitive project? Does the project require expert knowledge? Do you have a project that needs to be rescued? Do you have a need to cover extended leave on a project? Who can help you hire the best and most cost-effective Project Manager? #projectmanager #projectmanagement #PMP #project

Project Manager

The transition from Contract Administrator to Project Manager is a significant career move that involves taking on broader responsibilities and a more direct leadership role. As such, you need to inspire and motivate your team, set clear goals, and ensure everyone is working towards common objectives. The following is what’s at the core of effective project management: 1). Lead by example: Demonstrate the work ethic, professionalism, and dedication you expect from your team. 2). Communicate effectively: Initially, more communication is better than less to convey project goals, expectations, and feedback clearly and effectively. 3). Build trust: Foster trust by being transparent, reliable, and supportive. Keep your commitments and be honest with your team. Especially acknowledging when you make a mistake. It’s also important to understand and manage team dynamics to ensure a productive and harmonious working environment by: 1). Recognising individual strengths: Identify the strengths of each team member and assign tasks that leverage these abilities where possible. 2). Promoting collaboration and teamwork: Facilitate regular onsite meetings to discuss progress, outline tasks / responsibilities, and provide updates on milestones and changes (eg. scope or timelines) to keep everyone aligned with project goals. 3). Addressing conflicts promptly: Resolve conflicts swiftly to prevent them from affecting team morale and productivity. And, last but not least, prioritise clear communication: 1). Set clear expectations: Ensure that all team members understand their roles, responsibilities, and the project’s objectives. 2). Provide regular updates: Keep the team informed about project progress, changes, and any issues that arise. 3). Encourage open dialogue: Foster a supportive environment for team communication through regular formal meetings, one-on-one informal meetings, active listening, involving team members in decisions, an ‘open door’ policy, and by encouraging the team to share any concerns. Stay tuned next week when I’ll share some more practical tips as you move from CA into the PM space. #ConstructionPeople #contractadministrator #projectmanager #constructionjobs

Project manager

Project manager

Project Manager

Project Manager

Project manager