Efficient time management is a crucial component of getting a project to the completion stage. But in businesses like construction, where so many things can come into play out of nowhere, time management can be a problem. When your team is handling a building project, every second counts. So here are several useful tips that will help you and your team stay on track without wasting time:
Organise Tasks and Assign
Everyone knows how to plan a project on a stage by stage basis. However, most make the mistake of not assigning specific tasks to the right worker. You may already have a project plan well laid out. But if everyone is confused about who has to handle what, then even the best plans would not follow through on time.
Therefore, when designing project plans, assign responsibility for all the necessary tasks. There should be a team leader, at least, in charge of part of the project. That would lessen the confusion and reduce the risk of different managers clashing with each other. More importantly, assigning tasks ahead of time would save a lot of time later.
Use Reliable Resource Management Software
Building projects involve an ungodly amount of paperwork. Think about how your business handles creating quotas. Does it still involve using spreadsheets, accounting calculators, and spending many hours just moving data between all these different programs? Then your business certainly doesn’t have an efficient system to handle such tasks.
Invest in resource management programs, like specifically designed takeoff estimating software, which could automate most of the tedious aspects of creating quotes. The best programs allow businesses to quickly and easily create estimates, quotes, and similar paperwork. Use these options to save time and fast-track customer care.
Get Used to Productivity Mobile Apps
Mobile apps are not just for taking pictures and playing games on the go. Your employees should use productivity apps to manage their workload better. There are lots of options out there designed specifically for businesses. Slack is a famous example. The options are not limited to that however.
It would be very worthwhile for your business to spend money on enterprise editions of productivity apps to get everyone on track. Just using one or two could dramatically reduce time spent on chain emails or exchanging power points.
Make Sure Everyone Stays Informed
Think about all the nightmare scenarios where things got delayed because the people involved had no idea what to do. This type of gaps in the information flow is normal when employees are not communicating properly.
Make use of mobile apps and software to facilitate communication between employees. There are free tools companies can easily use like Skype, Slack, and Asana and so on. As mentioned above, use productivity apps to streamline the workflow. No one should get lost in a chain email.
Build a culture where it’s easy for employees to communicate with each other. There should not be unnecessary barriers here. Put digital tools to good use and definitely avoid time-wasting meetings.
Do Prioritise Tasks
Everything needs to get done, but the project would flow more smoothly when you know what needs to get done now. Learn how to prioritise tasks in a project and assign deadlines accordingly.
Prioritising shouldn’t be left to the last minute. Assign team leaders and instruct them to know which tasks to prioritise. When the important things are done, there would be little need to rush, which often consumes time.
Time saving is not hard when your employees put their mind to it. Make the best use of above tips to improve efficiency and stay on budget during projects.