If there’s one thing every construction project manager wishes they had more of—it’s time. They’re usually caught up in many activities such as handling supply deliveries, coordinating trades, and meeting client expectations. During this process, time flies by so quickly and in construction, time management is very important. 

As a project manager, how do you stay ahead of these activities and manage your time? Time management is a very important aspect of construction project management.

In this article, we’ll explore some practical ways to manage your time effectively and keep your projects running smoothly.

5 tips for time management 

• Start with a solid plan

The foundation of good time management is having a solid plan. Before you begin work on a project, have a detailed schedule for your projects and make sure it includes deadlines and major milestones. Include some extra time for unexpected circumstances that may come up. Update your team on their responsibilities. Because when everyone’s clear on what needs to happen and when, it’s easier to keep things working smoothly.

• Prioritize your day

Each new day comes with its own challenges but not all of them need to take your attention. At the start of each new day, plan out the things you need to get done and ask yourself how you intend to go about keeping things on track. The trick here is to stay focused on important matters and avoid getting caught up in minor distractions that will waste your time.

• Use project management tools and tech 

Technology has advanced so much that you don’t have to manage your project with spreadsheets and sticky notes. There are smarter tools you can use like Procore, Buildertrend or Microsoft Project. These tools help you schedule tasks, track your projects, assign responsibilities to the right people and communicate with your team- all in one place. With these tools, you can make fast decisions and fix any issues as quickly as they arise.

• Delegate and communicate clearly 

Trying to do everything yourself will leave you stressed and burnt out. Instead, trust your team to get the job done. All you need to do have a system that works then delegate tasks to the right people on the team. Ensure everyone knows their role and when the deadline is due. 

Also, having regular site meetings or quick check-ins allow you to know how things are progressing and gives your team a chance to give you feedback concerning any issue that arises.

• Expect the unexpected

Even after you’ve laid down your plans, unexpected circumstances will arise. A worker might call in sick, the weather may turn bad unexpectedly , materials may be incomplete and other hiccups you’ll experience. 

That’s why having a contingency plan is a smart move. Ensure you have a plan to cover for all these lapses during the planning stage. The more flexible you are, the less stress you’ll feel when these unexpected changes come.

Conclusion 

Time management in construction isn’t about taking on more tasks in a day, it’s about working smarter to complete all tasks assigned for the day. You can achieve this with a solid plan and a team that’s ready to adjust and react professionally to every unexpected event. This may take some time to get used to, but if you stay consistent, you’ll achieve more than you thought possible.