A successful life doesn’t happen without learning valuable lessons, and neither does a successful construction project. Anyone who has worked in the construction industry can tell you that it’s far from easy. It requires patience, precision, and a high level of professionalism, and the stakes are high if you don’t meet the mark. A lot of construction lessons are hard-won, learned over years of making mistakes until it all comes together. We can all learn a lot from the field of construction, actually. The lessons learned in this industry carry over into life pretty easily, starting with these five.
Measure Twice, Cut Once
You don’t have to work in construction to be familiar with this saying. It’s one that’s been passed down for years. It’s literal meaning, of course, refers to measuring properly before cutting to avoid a potentially inconvenient or costly mistake. The larger meaning, though, suggests the importance of paying attention to the details, being present with the task at hand, and planning ahead. Not following this advice can have huge consequences for a construction project, but it’s one we all can learn from.
Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Well
Most of us have heard something like this from our parents, and rightly so. If you don’t learn this lesson quickly in the construction industry, you can likely expect some very unhappy clients, if not worse. The stakes when working in construction aren’t to be taken lightly, and “good enough” doesn’t cut it. Skimping on materials, time, and labor, as well as cutting corners all do a disservice to you and the final product.
Learn by Doing
Construction is definitely an industry you want to be well-studied in, but the real experience comes from actually doing the work. It’s one thing to read manuals or watch someone else operate a piece of equipment or do an installation, but you’ll never master it or become confident in your abilities until you do it yourself successfully. The same can be said for retaining by doing. Just because you nailed it once, doesn’t mean you’re a pro for life. Keep practicing, and get to know your strengths, your weaknesses, and your equipment inside and out.
Respect the Craft
Well-respected construction teams are made of true craftsmen. Construction is both a science and an art, and to be truly good at it, you need to have the integrity to honor its rules and standards, especially when it comes to safety and quality. Quality and safety should always be your priority, and you should want to continue learning as much as possible about both. Respecting the craft also means respecting what others can teach you, as well as the crew you’re collaborating with. A lot of construction projects require a village, and if you don’t share the same value for the craft, it can turn into a circus quickly.
Communication Is Crucial
As with any relationship, proper communication on job sites is essential. There are a lot of people working on any given project, all with slightly different goals and challenges. Not consistently communicating openly and honestly can get everyone in a jam that could have serious consequences, even leading to someone getting hurt. Communication needs to be clear, direct, and prompt across the board to keep things running smoothly.
There’s a lot construction can teach us about life, and these lessons are key to managing both. It’s best if they don’t have to be hard-won, but better late than never. They’re certainly lessons we at Woofter Construction have learned, so you can bet you’re getting a team that understands the field when you’re working with us. To learn more about Woofter, visit our site or call us at (785) 462-8653.