Setting expectations is an important process for a safe and efficient job site.
Once you have your goals established, share them with your crew. Make sure everybody knows what’s expected of the crew and of each team member. Get everyone thinking about this target. Aim high—people get more work done when they have a goal.
Reassess and comment to your crew frequently throughout the day. For example, you might say, “We need this area excavated and the new base installed and compacted when the concrete arrives at 2 p.m.” Or, “We need to have topsoil and plants installed today because we are planning to lay sod, water and clean up tomorrow.”
Don’t negotiate targets with your crew. Take your crew’s input and have a discussion, but ultimately targets should be firm, which makes them a commitment. When your crew members know you plan to keep commitments, they will push to meet them.
Remember to be specific about each crew member’s goals and timelines. If you think a job should take 20 minutes, don’t say, “About 30 minutes.”
For example, you might say, “We should have mowing, beds, pruning and cleanup done by 11:45 a.m.; we’ll take a break at approximately 10 a.m. for 15 minutes.”
Be specific, but also make sure your timelines are reasonable.
Brought to you by Greenius
