A Little Common Sense for the New Boss

Abstract

Running a construction site right means, among other things, applying common sense when called for. What makes common sense uncommon and why do people everywhere in construction complain about the lack of it? Good sense means leading others over obstacles and generating excitement under conditions far from ideal. It means that a pat on the back for a job well done is more important than money. Practical sense means setting an example by doing, not saying, and by outwardly owning up to the fact that in an industry as complex and costly as construction, not a day goes by without a valuable lesson learned. One lesson the new supervisor must learn is that failure teaches. At times things can and do go wrong, for outside the imagination there is no such thing as a perfect job. For the new boss unfamiliar with the demands of supervision and the pressure of deadlines, accepting failure, though painful, is nonetheless necessary. Common sense also means staying levelheaded, without loosing sight of priorities and without compromising quality or worker safety.