Mark Pratt’s Post

Want to know the secret to being a successful Contract Administrator? It’s simple really. Pick up the phone! ☎️ Project Managers often express frustration that young people are so used to communicating via devices that they rely on emails to communicate with subbies. Here’s why that doesn’t work. Emails can be easily misconstrued. Tone gets lost, intentions misunderstood, and small issues can escalate quickly. A phone call? It's immediate, clear, and much better at resolving or avoiding conflict. You get to hear their concerns, respond in real time, and build stronger relationships. That’s the real job of the CA – building relationships and minimising conflict. You can’t do that via email.

Get in touch with Maggie Cobos to learn more!

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

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

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

This week, I talk about contract #ProgramManagement and what it takes to enter this field. Lots of topics to take in on this article: ➡ Expected salary ranges ➡ Skills needed to perform the job ➡ Where to find contract support ➡ Benefits of using contract help ➡ What do they do #ProgramManager #ProjectManagement #ProjectManager

✔ 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗠 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗲 that we started the search for over the weekend...Essential attributes that must come across on your profile and CV... and applications to this link only please >>> https://lnkd.in/enqHzcZQ "𝗜𝗧 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗲𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿" • Proven IT Systems application deployment PM • Brilliant comms skills and team work • Require you to be hugely diligent, detail focused and methodical • Available for literally immediate start Per my post over the weekend about PM CV tips... PM types that this won't work for (ie, pls don't apply)... • Agile / scrum • Infrastructure / telecoms • Programme Mgrs • PMO • Junior PM • Process PM types • Change PMs • Business PMs • Ops organisational PMs • Estates PMs • Legal PMs I'm being clear because it helps you, helps us and helps the client. We deeply know the difference between all of the above and spot this in profiles a mile off. We're delivery professionals ourselves. With contracting we don't take a risk for our clients on proven expertise... By analogy, we are buying the service of the plumber that knows exactly how to install exactly the type of boiler that we want and have done it 100 times before ideally...  not an apprentice into a new type of boiler (aka project) domain. Contracting outside IR35, not employment career growth convos. This role will attract c. 200 applications in the next 24-48 hours... most I'll bet will be from PMs in list above. I'm not saying you cannot do it and that your skills are not transferable, but this is professional service procurement (again, back to outside IR35)... As such we're seeking the expert in what we need and are not covering development growth on the job into a new area - unless you have exceedingly good marketing skills and reasons to convince otherwise. However, if you are skilled in IT systems application deployments, that's great, we'll review super fast this week with immediate start, just like we did for a great PM over the weekend just gone in a different domain. Of course, for other client roles, we hire PMs from list above...  and when those come along you may be suited with your expertise and experience in which case, game on we'll be talking. Best, Chris 👏👏💥

Today I had a conversation with a client about the benefits of hiring day rate contractors in the Project Management space. And here are my two cents on the subject. In the world of project management, adaptability and expertise reign supreme, day rate contractors emerge as invaluable assets to any organisation. Here's why hiring a day rate contractor is a no brainer for any company looking to deliver critical projects/scale up their business. ▶ Agile Solutions: Projects often present unforeseen challenges and shifting priorities. Day rate contractors offer the agility to swiftly address these hurdles, providing on-demand support without the delay of traditional hiring processes. ✔ Specialised Expertise: Every project is unique, requiring a diverse set of skills. Day rate contractors bring specialised expertise tailored to your project's precise requirements, ensuring optimal performance and timely delivery. ✖ Cost Efficiency: Project budgets are tight, and every euro counts. With day rate contractors, you pay for the days worked, eliminating the overhead costs associated with full-time employees. This cost-effective approach maximizes project ROI without compromising quality. ♦ Scalable Workforce: Project scopes go up and down, necessitating flexibility in how you allocate your resources. Day rate contractors offer scalability, enabling you to scale your workforce up or down as project demands evolve, ensuring efficient resource utilisation and project success. 🎱 Fresh Insights: Collaboration breeds innovation. Day rate contractors inject fresh perspectives into your project team, challenging conventional thinking and fostering creativity. Their diverse backgrounds and experiences enhance problem-solving and drive continuous improvement. In summary, day rate contractors aren't just hired help—they're strategic partners in project management success. Ready to elevate your project outcomes! If you are a company interested in finding out how hiring day rate contractors can help you please do get in touch! And if you are a Project Manager who is looking for a new contract, or looking to explore the contracting world let's talk! #ProjectManagement #DayRateContractors #AgileSolutions #SpecialisedExpertise #CostEfficiency #Scalability"

I received a call today about a Project Manager position and just to keep the door open I submitted my resume. I am working and I shared that but for future consideration as my role is project to project. The response was “am I able to use my connections to bring in work.” Time out. I have seen this to often and go south for both the employee and employer. The position was for project manager not business development. The response made the entire position contingent upon work. 1.) The company may not be able to compete with the rates of others. So bringing in the work isn’t as easy. 2.) Business development takes along time. IMHO. If your hired in as a PM the focus to make the company money is in the work. 3.) I’ve helped 3 contractors bring in work through MSAs. The compensation was zero, zero and zero with a layoff. (For me there will be a formal contract although I know a few that got zero at end of year.) All this to say is bring in the right person for the job description. PM/CMs let the work come in organically. Have a compensation package in place ahead of time.