Construction requires performing tasks with extreme precision. This needs to be balanced against clients’ desires to have their projects built and completed within a specific – and sometimes compressed – timeframe. As a result, workers can feel the need to perform duties as quickly as possible, which can at times impact the overall quality of their performance and work product. To ensure you’re meeting deadlines without sacrificing your quality of work, keep these tips in mind to maximize your productivity.

Set Realistic Goals

Prior to beginning a project, consider what your short-term and long-term goals should be. It’s important to set realistic goals. If your performance targets aren’t achievable, your productivity will be negatively impacted. To avoid this, break down your day-to-day goals into manageable tasks and make sure to prioritize time-sensitive task as they are assigned. 

Communicate Clearly and Often 

Poor communication between you, your fellow team members, and your supervisor can lead to unnecessary mistakes. If this occurs, you must redo tasks and productivity suffers. Make it a habit to frequently communicate with your team to avoid wasting time and get in front of preventable errors. By doing so, you’ll able to discuss your day-to-day goals, assess whether you’re on the right track and keep small setbacks that are quickly addressed from becoming big problems that take a lot of time to resolve.

Track How Much Time is Being Spent on Tasks

You may think you’re good at estimating how much time you’re spending on specific tasks, but it can be hard to tell for sure if you’re not actually tracking it. Consider using a timer to measure how much time you really spend on daily tasks. Adjust your schedule accordingly based on your findings.

Be Flexible

So now your goals are in place and you’ve established a solid schedule. Things are going well! But here comes an unexpected curveball. The answer: Don’t be too married to your routine and be prepared to make modifications. No day is the same when you’re working on a construction project, so be prepared to adapt as needed.

Check In With Yourself

As the start and end of each workday, check in with yourself to review your goals. Did the day go well, and did you achieve what you needed to do? If so, keep doing what you’re doing. If not, make some adjustments. Every day offers a new opportunity to set small goals and achieve them.