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In the construction business, it stands to reason that productivity is the key to success. So, what is the key to productivity, might you ask? A good place to start is communication. With all of the moving pieces on any given jobsite, good communication is essential to keeping everybody on the same page. There’s no better way to achieve this, than regular jobsite meetings.

The jobsite is the perfect place to communicate the employees, subcontractors, and clients. Issues and goals can be more clearly expressed at the actual jobsite, rather than in an office or over the phone. By meeting on the jobsite and doing a simple walk-through, everybody can gain a clear understanding of what has been accomplished so far and which things need to be focused on going forward.

In order to keep your jobsite meetings as effective as possible, there are a few things to keep in mind. First off, select a good time for everyone to meet. Your time is better spent speaking with everybody at once, rather than repeating the same information several times throughout the day. Secondly, only include the most relevant people in the meeting. That way, you can ensure that some work is still getting done while the meeting is underway.

Jobsite meetings that run over-schedule can also have a negative effect on productivity. When you consider the hourly rate of your employees, a one-hour meeting can easily cost a couple hundred dollars in lost productivity. To get the most out of your time, plan ahead. Try to keep your meetings as short and to the point as possible. If need be, create an agenda for your meetings. That will help streamline the process. Even a simple bulleted list with points to cover can do the trick. Include things such as:

• Date, time, and place of meeting
• Status of the project
• Additional orders/cost overruns
• Safety issues such as workplace conditions or security problems.
• Review any unresolved issues from the last meeting.
• Project schedule. For example, have there been any delays? Are all permits and approvals on track?
• Quality of work/inspections. Are there any issues with workmanship? Did anything come up during the walk-through?

It’s important to note that jobsite meetings are an excellent opportunity to discuss safety issues. Depending on the nature of the day’s work that is planned, safety might be the main topic of the meeting. Share any upcoming changes to the project with employees; make sure that they are aware of any specific hazards that may exist. This is also the perfect time to let your employees know that you are willing to listen to their input and suggestions, especially where job site safety is concerned.