Teamwork Makes The Dreamwork (Nah?)
We have no problems—only opportunities. Unlimited bagels. Leaning in, circling up, circling back … .Let’s face it: there’s no shortage of phrases and gestures (how about another t-shirt?) that have become annoying in the workplace, even if they started out as well-intentioned ways to add oomph to the work culture. Here’s the good news: no more slogans necessary. Just follow these pointers from real life construction pros.
How Do People Work Together?
Tomes have been written, literally, about workplace culture, but at the end of the day, what matters to most people is having a smooth, pleasant, and cooperative atmosphere on the job, as best possible, given that it is work after all. With a little luck and effort, even that feeling of “cooking with juice,” is possible, as we team up on new ideas and boost each other along. Pointing out that “A strong internal culture becomes an external advantage,” for businesses, Nick Howell of T&N Asphalt Services shares these practical insights:
Company culture is the way your people work together and how it feels to be part of your organization. It’s the attitude in the yard first thing in the morning. It’s how your crew reacts when a job goes sideways. It’s your crews’ concern for productivity. It’s the pride—or lack of it—that they carry into each project and on to each jobsite….
Crews who are treated well take more pride in their work. They have better attitudes on the jobsite. They problem-solve better. They communicate better. And customers absolutely pick up on that. It shows in the final product, in the interactions, in the overall experience – and in your repeat business and referral rates.
Of course the genuine efforts of business owners to foster positive culture look different at every company, and Howell underscores that the root is demonstrating to employees that they matter. At For Construction Pros, he shares that at his company, “culture shows up in simple, practical, easy-to-implement and in some cases obvious ways,” and offers these examples:
- It starts with wages, and we are more than competitive in that area. It’s difficult to get employees to feel like part of your company and buy-in to its culture if they don’t feel like they are compensated fairly. We check that box right from the start.
- We buy pallets of bottled water every spring. We keep a snack table stocked with drinks, protein shakes, jerky — and even healthy stuff! We ask them what food or beverage they’d like to see on the table — and we get it for them (Lay’s BBQ chips was last season’s hot item).
- None of this costs much, especially compared to the morale and culture benefit, and it’s all there for the taking. And it sends a message: “We notice you. We appreciate you. You’re valuable to us. We care.”
When you stand back to consider how to strengthen the culture at your company, keep in mind that positive culture grows best from a steady stream of thoughtful actions, not grandiose gestures. In Howell’s experience, every day actions like these, have made all the difference:
- Explaining why instead of just saying “because I said so”
- Recognizing good work when you see it
- Giving someone an opportunity to step up
- Helping your team get through a tough week
High Functioning Teams Are Anchored In Clarity
All work teams need more to go on than “go team go,” and this is especially true in construction. As Kate Zabriskie points out at Construction Business Owner, there’s a real cost to confusion:
When teams aren’t clear on goals, roles and tasks, even the most talented group can lose direction…..When roles and responsibilities are unclear, accountability fades. If something goes wrong, the response becomes “not my job”…..Blame circulates, and soon the team is more focused on defending actions than solving problems … .Clarity isn’t just nice-to-have — it’s what keeps teams aligned, productive and, yes, drama-free. When everyone understands the bigger purpose behind their work, their unique role and the tactical steps needed to get there, teams don’t just function — they thrive….
As owner, if you think you’re too busy to detail how projects are to be accomplished, think again. Ensuring that big sweeping goals are broken out into specific tasks and defined roles strengthens the bottom line—and keeps people working together smoothly:
Clear tasks provide a road map that makes daily work straightforward. Vague instructions like “make customers happy” create hesitation. But if the task is specific — “send follow-up emails to five top clients this week”— each step brings the team closer to the goal. Clear tasks are what keep the wheels turning and make meaningful progress possible.”
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