DECEMBER - JANUARYCONSTRUCTIONBUSINESSREVIEW.COM9you in the way they describe a problem. In the same fashion people perceive that Men don't like to ask directions, em-ployees don't always want to ask for help outright. When the people know you will listen to a problem and provide some guidance or options to consider, they will come to you and have less surprises.Over my years I have developed a list of rules that I use to set expectations, hold accountable and be a committed partner to the work force. I spend 1 hour a week with the su-pervisors in training to help them understand how and when to use the various rules in their dealings with craft workers. Doing this live on a project provides a great opportunity to discuss the things that went well and those things that can benefit from coaching for the future.The following list of 10 rules that my employees call Rocky's 10 commandants, are listed below. I can swear to you they will bring value to you and the labor force if prac-ticed regularly. Setting Expectations as the foundation to Leadership1. As a Manager you are expected to "work the people, instead of just letting them work". This concept applies to Open or Closed Shop Labor, CM work or any contract that requires manpower to execute.2. A part of working the people is to set expectations up front around Safety, Quality and Production. To do so, you must understand the work, materials and information avail-able.3. Ask the unreasonable, when setting expectations, you need to target 30 percent more than what the people think is achievable. If you don't, you will very seldom hit your tar-gets. The people will always have 10 to 20 percentsand bag built into any time frame discussed.4. Always get or agree to a commitment in time for every task, commitments in time equal results, everything else is just a conversation. Be specific in commitments, don't use morning, afternoon or next week time frames, list a specific hour (i.e.: 8am, or 2 pm or any other hour) just be specific on the time, reduce the interpretation, confusion means cash to craft.5. Always remember, the minimum you accept is the maxi-mum you will achieve. Always expect extraordinary results, don't settle for ordinary, or that is all you will ever achieve.6. There is never a right way to do the wrong thing. You can be inventive and think out of the box, but never take a short cut to achieve results that should have been planned.7. You have to stay engaged and follow up, follow up, follow up. The people must know you are engaged and checking on the work, when you quit checking they quit working.8. Trust but verify, never take for granted a task has been completed until you have put your eyes or hands on it. Remember Rule 5, "the minimum you accept is the maxi-mum you will achieve", if it has your name on it make sure it meets your expectations. 9. To be successful, no matter what you are doing, you must be able to manage your Time and your Money, these things go hand in hand and until you can do both well you will struggle being effective in managing work and people.10. You can't criticize a blank sheet of paper, to be committed to you plans you have to write them down. Having a plan and communicating it to your people is essential for success. Rocky Plemons
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