Webster’s Dictionary says that success is “a favorable or desired outcome.” This means that to develop your definition of success, you will need to first identify the measurable outcomes you are hoping to achieve with your endeavor – allowing you to recognize the milestones of your success as they are reached. 

Known mainly for his military and political achievements, President Dwight D. Eisenhower found success following a principle he shared often, “[w]hat is important is seldom urgent, and what is urgent is seldom important.” In construction project management, the Urgent-Important principle suggests that project managers should ensure they are prioritizing the important tasks that might not have immediate deadlines. Here are three tasks that we think are highly important for construction projects that may not set off any of your urgent alarms.

Although punch lists are a familiar assessment tool in the construction industry, the many possible ways in which they can be applied are commonly overlooked. We all know that punch lists are the standard for end-of-project walk-thrus and inspections, but have you ever considered using a punch list app to successfully end each phase of a project, or ensure all necessary documentation is completed across the duration of a job? What about measuring your preparedness for a trade show or making sure a lead is fully qualified using a punch list? Below, we provide 3 unconventional yet easy adaptations for the common punch list format:

Depending on who you talk to, the term “Change Order” can solicit a broad range of reactions. The most common reactions might include heavy sighs, eye rolls, or pursed lips, while some uncommon ones could have you ducking for cover as every object within reach comes flying at your head. For many, Change Orders have done more than enough damage to a bottom line to warrant the type of disgust merely whispering the word can invoke. For others, however, Change Orders are the golden goose; these select few have mastered the art of the Change Order, and these are the ones you should be paying attention to. 

A favorite adage of mine is “you can’t improve what you don’t measure.” But you have to know what you want to determine before you can know what needs to be measured. In construction, the industry with the lowest start-up survival rate nationwide*, what most business owners need to know is as simple as this – are we going to make it?

Manually managing where employees and subcontractors need to be is a time consuming task. With intuitive, automated solutions, construction management software can help to eliminate these types of tedious, routine tasks - saving you time, money, and hassle.

Read on to see an illustration of how construction automation software - like ConstructionOnline's GamePlan™ - can benefit any construction company:

At UDA Technologies, we frequently recommend working with templates in construction management – estimate templates, schedule templates, document templates, even complete project templates – because we know that building repeatable, reliable processes supports the growth and success of your construction company. However, many construction professionals scoff at the idea of templates when first introduced, thinking that these types of tools only apply to certain types of builders. You’ll be happy to learn that templates – particularly construction estimate templates – are actually beneficial tools for almost all types of builders. Read on to learn more about why you should start using estimate templates today at your business:

Your company may have started small, with little to no infrastructure to support the successful scale of your business. However, as you begin to experience periods of rapid growth, you will encounter challenges impairing the profitability, visibility, and quality of your company's jobs. Software plays a major role in helping you navigate these tricky times with ease, efficiency, and effectiveness.

John Wooden is a legend. During his 12 year tenure as the head coach of UCLA’s men’s basketball team, he won 10 national titles, including a record seven in a row. To put this in perspective, no other team has ever won more than two titles in a row – including national powerhouses like Duke, UNC, and Kentucky. Wooden’s success on the court will long remain the gold standard in the basketball community, but outside the sports world, his legacy is the incredible leadership that he displayed and passed along to others.

Navigating rapid growth at your construction company can be tricky business. All too often, companies experiencing rapid growth fall victim to common mistakes which can deliver catastrophic results, like business failure. American business executive and author, Beth Comstock, reminds us that scaling successfully “isn’t just about driving growth. It’s about staying in business.”