Focus and perseverance are words we hear a lot when we talk about project success and, of course, they are crucial. A site manager without focus could, and likely would, be chaotic for a site.
But, can laser focus be detrimental to a project? After all, focus means honing in on one aspect of a task whilst neglecting, for a moment at least, another.
Worse still, when we are stubbornly persistent, we run the risk of hurtling down the wrong path at the expense of the very success we are chasing.
Stepping back
In much the same way it is wise to let muscles rest and recover after a gym workout, the same is true of mental fatigue.
Even better, guidance from a physical trainer is likely to help you avoid injury and increase your gains.
Simply put: asking a neutral observer for their input can be crucial in order for you step away from your own tunnel vision and see the wider picture.
Second pair of eyes
Going back to the question posed at the beginning of this article, how can we be sure that everybody on our project, and therefore the project itself, is on track for the success we want it to be?
A 2021 study in the US demonstrated a strong correlation between utilising risk audits and construction project success. The study concluded that construction organisations should regularly apply risk monitoring in order to improve the success rate of a project.
To truly mitigate against falling victim to your own, or your team’s, passion for success, a unbiased viewpoint is vital.
'To get that second pair of eyes is vitally important'
Last year, the team at North East housebuilder Cameron Hall Homes recognised that their own drive and criteria for high standards wasn’t enough. The homes they are building on the Wynyard Estate in Billingham have been designed and built with care at every step of the way.
However, for Cameron Hall’s site leadership team, this wasn’t enough. They wanted to go further. This is when they turned to Premier Guarantee’s Site Quality Review service.
Site Manager Jack Collins called the review ‘massively important’.
He said: “When you are on site for long periods of time or anything you do in life , if you are solely focussed on one thing you get lost and can’t take a step back.
“To get someone else to come in to tell you whether you are doing good or bad, it’s good to get that feedback.”
“We snag, we do quality checks but to get that second pair of eyes is vitally important. Any quality visit or reports are massively important.”
Watch the full story of how Cameron Hall Homes doubled down on quality checks.
Ready to get a clearer view of the quality of your work? Book a Site Quality Review.
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Every care was taken to ensure the information in this article was correct at the time of publication (January 2023). Guidance provided does not replace the reader’s professional judgement and any construction project should comply with the relevant Building Regulations or applicable technical standards. For the most up to date Premier Guarantee technical guidance please refer to your Risk Management Surveyor and the latest version of the Premier Guarantee Technical Manual.
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