This workshop series addresses the primary skills needed by today’s field professionals; foremen, supervisors and superintendents. Training topics include productivity, customer relationships, planning and scheduling, time management, contract basics and more!
Find and register for upcoming classes on our calendar of events.
Class Descriptions
UNDERSTANDING PRODUCTIVITY & PROJECT LEADERSHIP
Driving Project Success: Keys to Improving Productivity
How can the Field Leader improve productivity? This session will explain how, by reviewing the keys to minimizing waste and inefficiencies’ and getting the best effort from the field crews. We will provide practical tools that can be implemented by Field Leaders to lower the cost of production.
Project Leadership: How Leadership Differs From Management
Field Leaders are also project leaders. We will explore both management and leadership behaviors and explain how they are different. We will discuss what effective leadership looks like and how to lead more effectively on your projects.
RESOURCE CONTROL & CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
Resource Control: Managing Your Critical Project Resources
This session will discuss the Field Leader’s role in overseeing the various resources that need to be managed for a successful project. The systems, metrics, reporting tools and what to do with the information are important success factors in being a great Field Leader whether your resources are people, materials or equipment.
Customer Relationships
Developing Customers for Life: Construction is a service industry and how we treat our customers impacts the success of the project and business. This session will drive home the importance of developing great customer relationships and how to navigate dissatisfaction when it occurs. We will explore the one question that needs to be asked to ensure your customers are happy and how to keep them coming back for years.
IMPROVEMENT ALONG THE PROJECT LIFE CYCLE
This session will examine the value and positive impact of a well-planned project and explore the different types of plans that could be developed. Planning does not end when the project starts and we will discuss how to lead planning from the beginning of the project all the way until the customer accepts the finished project. We will discuss scheduling, resource control, negotiation skills, and cash flow.
CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION & EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
Contract Administration
Crossing the T’s and Dotting the I’s: Understanding the basics of the contract is critical to a Field Leader’s ability to mitigate risk and protect the company, on a daily basis. We will review the pitfalls and lessons that every Field Leader must watch and tell a few stories to illustrate the importance of thorough contract administration.
Effective Communication
Learn and Avoid the Roadblocks to Great Communication: One survey reports that Project Managers and Field Leaders spend 90% of their time communicating. We will explore the mediums of communication and discuss how to be more successful communicators by knowing ourselves better, avoiding roadblocks to communication and listening better. Participants will learn skills that will help them be more efficient and improve their relationships internally and externally.
PLANNING AND SCHEDULING & TIME MANAGEMENT
Project Planning from Preconstruction to Closeout
Planning does not end when the project starts. We will discuss how to lead planning from the beginning of the project all the way until you turn-over a finished project.
Time Management: Achieving Maximum Personal Productivity
Personal productivity is about self management and improving habits to maximize your use of time. We will review tips to improve your skills and conduct a self-analysis of how you use your time. We will also discuss the importance of prioritizing and apply lessons that can improve your work-life balance.
Driving Project Success: Keys to Improving Productivity
How can the Field Leader improve productivity? This session will explain how, by reviewing the keys to minimizing waste and inefficiencies’ and getting the best effort from the field crews. We will provide practical tools that can be implemented by Field Leaders to lower the cost of production.
Project Leadership: How Leadership Differs From Management
Field Leaders are also project leaders. We will explore both management and leadership behaviors and explain how they are different. We will discuss what effective leadership looks like and how to lead more effectively on your projects.
RESOURCE CONTROL & CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
Resource Control: Managing Your Critical Project Resources
This session will discuss the Field Leader’s role in overseeing the various resources that need to be managed for a successful project. The systems, metrics, reporting tools and what to do with the information are important success factors in being a great Field Leader whether your resources are people, materials or equipment.
Customer Relationships
Developing Customers for Life: Construction is a service industry and how we treat our customers impacts the success of the project and business. This session will drive home the importance of developing great customer relationships and how to navigate dissatisfaction when it occurs. We will explore the one question that needs to be asked to ensure your customers are happy and how to keep them coming back for years.
IMPROVEMENT ALONG THE PROJECT LIFE CYCLE
This session will examine the value and positive impact of a well-planned project and explore the different types of plans that could be developed. Planning does not end when the project starts and we will discuss how to lead planning from the beginning of the project all the way until the customer accepts the finished project. We will discuss scheduling, resource control, negotiation skills, and cash flow.
CONTRACT ADMINISTRATION & EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONS
Contract Administration
Crossing the T’s and Dotting the I’s: Understanding the basics of the contract is critical to a Field Leader’s ability to mitigate risk and protect the company, on a daily basis. We will review the pitfalls and lessons that every Field Leader must watch and tell a few stories to illustrate the importance of thorough contract administration.
Effective Communication
Learn and Avoid the Roadblocks to Great Communication: One survey reports that Project Managers and Field Leaders spend 90% of their time communicating. We will explore the mediums of communication and discuss how to be more successful communicators by knowing ourselves better, avoiding roadblocks to communication and listening better. Participants will learn skills that will help them be more efficient and improve their relationships internally and externally.
PLANNING AND SCHEDULING & TIME MANAGEMENT
Project Planning from Preconstruction to Closeout
Planning does not end when the project starts. We will discuss how to lead planning from the beginning of the project all the way until you turn-over a finished project.
Time Management: Achieving Maximum Personal Productivity
Personal productivity is about self management and improving habits to maximize your use of time. We will review tips to improve your skills and conduct a self-analysis of how you use your time. We will also discuss the importance of prioritizing and apply lessons that can improve your work-life balance.
“We have sent several of our foreman including myself to the Field Supervisory Class and we have came back with a new outlook and skills to improve upon in the field as a supervisor. We have all said that it was well worth the time to attend and are planning on sending more of our foreman to these classes when they come available again.”
- Dan Spencer General Superintendent, Merit Electric
- Dan Spencer General Superintendent, Merit Electric
INSTRUCTOR BIO
Stephane McShane
Maxim Consulting Group
Stephane McShane, Director at Maxim Consulting Group, works with construction related firms of all sizes to evaluate business practices and assist with management challenges. With a large depth of experience working in the construction industry, Stephane is keenly aware of the business and, most specifically, operational challenges that firms face. Stephane possesses the rare combination of talent from being in the field as an apprentice, electrician, foreman, then working her way through each operational chair within a successful electrical construction firm. Her ability to motivate, inspire, and create confidence among your work groups is extremely rare and very effective.
Maxim Consulting Group
Stephane McShane, Director at Maxim Consulting Group, works with construction related firms of all sizes to evaluate business practices and assist with management challenges. With a large depth of experience working in the construction industry, Stephane is keenly aware of the business and, most specifically, operational challenges that firms face. Stephane possesses the rare combination of talent from being in the field as an apprentice, electrician, foreman, then working her way through each operational chair within a successful electrical construction firm. Her ability to motivate, inspire, and create confidence among your work groups is extremely rare and very effective.
