How to Drive Effective Communication and Collaboration on the Jobsite

Every jobsite has a ton of moving parts, from product shipments, supplies, and schedules to subcontractors and homeowners. It's no wonder that many project teams can struggle to maintain quality jobsite communication and collaboration throughout the building process. And when communication slips, construction companies inevitably deal with costly errors, inefficient workflows, delayed projects, or wasted time, leaving clients and the team frustrated.

However, it doesn't have to be this way. By applying a few key strategies, builders can drive strong construction collaboration and communication at every jobsite, resulting in efficient work, empowered teams, and ultimately satisfied homeowners.

6 Strategies to Improve Jobsite Communication and Collaboration

Start With Collaborative Construction Leadership

Effective jobsite communication and collaboration always starts with having great leadership at the helm, the kind that can manage and motivate a team to stay on task even when difficulties arise. 

But as a construction company, you also need to ensure your project leaders are communicating and collaborating well with their project managers, subcontractors, and other key stakeholders. Let them set the example for everyone else to follow. Otherwise the rest of your construction team won't buy into the collaborative construction approach you're trying to establish. 

Create an Organized Chain of Communication (and Stick to It)

As you begin your project, you should set up an agreed-upon chain of command that the entire jobsite team knows and follows. This plan will spell out which key players (like architects and general contractors) are responsible for communicating certain project information to one other and their teams. 

Knowing who's in charge of what in the jobsite communication process reduces uncertainty and confusion. It also gives your team members a clear path to get the right information to perform their duties and ask questions efficiently. By sticking with your chain of command throughout the project, you can communicate important details to the entire team quickly and ensure no one misses vital project information. 

Schedule Regular Meetings

Nobody likes to be left in the dark on a project. That's why it's important to hold regular meetings with your team to communicate key updates and expectations, ensuring everyone's on the same page. This also provides a great opportunity to remind your team of the bigger picture. By explaining how their responsibilities contribute to the overall project and affect other teammates, you're promoting team building in construction and mutual cooperation on the jobsite. 

Champion Open Jobsite Communication and Invite Feedback

To develop strong construction collaboration and communication, you must keep the lines of communication open for your entire team. This means empowering everyone to feel the freedom to ask questions when they don't understand or need to clarify their tasks, as well as engage in active dialogue with their supervisors for unexpected issues. 

At the same time, this open communication policy should also solicit feedback from your team. By inviting your team to regularly share their feedback, you're showing that you appreciate and value their perspectives. Plus, you may get some new ideas that address ongoing issues or enhance the project's output. 

With the chance to be heard, everyone will feel like an important part of the team, boosting morale and encouraging a more collaborative environment. Brad Leavitt, President of AFT Construction, says it well: “When people know you care, they show up to the job as their best selves.” 

Build Team Camaraderie After Hours

Collaborative construction at the jobsite can also be impacted by what goes on outside of it. With larger jobsites especially, construction workers can easily operate in isolated silos and rarely interact with other teammates. To combat this, building firms or project leaders can organize happy hours and other social outings when the workday ends to facilitate connection and relationships among the team. As everyone gets to know each other, they're more easily able to overcome jobsite communication barriers. This camaraderie can even create a better environment for team building in construction and collaboration during the project. 

Use the Right Materials

Believe it or not, the building materials used on the jobsite can affect your team's communication and collaboration efforts as well. Low-quality options can frustrate and slow down your team's efficiency, so it's important to prioritize premium materials instead, like the industry-leading LP Structural Solutions portfolio. Our LP Novacore® Thermal Insulated Sheathing, for example, is easy to install, streamlining your team's communication process and workflow. These materials are also highly resilient, which boosts your team's morale and collaborative output knowing their work will hold up on the jobsite and long after the project ends. 

Access More Collaborative Construction Tips with LP® Building Solutions

Implementing these communication and collaboration strategies at your jobsite can enable your team to achieve quality results that enhance your company's reputation and grow your business. If you'd like even more construction tips to help your firm thrive, explore our blog. At LP Building Solutions, we're all about providing world-class products (and expertise) for construction leaders like you.