Navigating Employment Instability in Construction Management

Sitting in the backyard this morning, wondering how the weather would turn out, I watched the clouds quickly moving past; the wind was in constant action. One lone bird was in the sky, flailing around, when all of a sudden, he came to a perfect landing on top of a swaying, exposed, projected top of a palm tree. The bird remained perched proudly on top of the tree for a lengthy period as the clouds cleared and the sun started to rise. From my distance, it appeared unstable and uncomfortable, yet he remained calm and proud looking.

Meeting with and speaking with people every day in the business of construction management, I would oftentimes put them in the category of flailing. If you are familiar with the word flailing, you may think of it as flapping arms all around or, as in the bird’s case, wings, trying to gain footing. The meaning I am referring to when it comes to employment is people who are ineffectual in choosing their employer or career, moving from employer to employer and/or job to job, not gaining their footing when it comes to choosing employment. Hiring managers can also find themselves flailing and ineffectual in hiring the right people and hiring people who are not qualified or choose not to do the job they are hired to do.

Skill Set vs. Mindset

Ineffectual means not producing any or the desired effect. One of my mentors in business used to repeat to me when I wanted to hire someone I liked despite them not having the right skill set or, after being hired, doing the job they were hired to do: “It is people for jobs and not jobs for people.” As the years and challenges and unfavorable consequences happened to me from either hiring for skill set or mindset and not ensuring both of those were addressed from the onset with the right communication and support to ensure mutual success and happiness, both myself and my business suffered.

As the morning went on, other birds flying solo or in playful twos flew by. Although, on this particular day, I did not see birds flying in perfect formation, I could picture what it looks like when they do and how they are in complete sync with one another. When we make the right match in the employment world, we hear things like how they enjoy working where they are at and how the team works so well together.

Tips for Achieving a Perfect Landing in Your Construction Career

What three steps can you take if you are flailing where you currently are to produce the result you are seeking?

1. Find the time and the place to observe what is happening around you. Just like the bird had to sit and watch the clouds go by for a period of time in order to determine which way to fly, you may have to do the same thing to control your feelings and align the timing with your desired result.
2. Be okay with being uncomfortable for a period of time until you have observed, taken time to reflect, and can see clarity through the moving clouds. The bird appeared to be extremely uncomfortable yet hung in there until the right time with the right plan to fly away from the rain to sunnier weather.
3. Seek out a professional resource to help you with knowing your options. The construction industry offers numerous career opportunities, and one segment of the industry might be more advantageous for you than another. For instance, if your attention to detail by disposition is not “off the charts,” then building projects that are budget friendly and not ultra-luxury may allow your other attributes to shine. Vice versa, if you are constantly frustrated with the lack of detail in the type of projects you are working on, going to a contractor who has no choice but to put detail at the forefront because that is the clientele they serve could bring you greater fulfillment and recognition.

When it comes to your career, no matter where you find yourself on the organizational chart, from entry level to even the CEO of the company and all the roles in between, finding your perfect landing involves first taking time to discover what that might look like for you. Like the bird, despite the weather possibly being windy around you, when you are perched atop the distractions and are able to observe and prepare for your next career move, whether in conversation and changes right where you are or by making a planned move, preserving relationships.

The bird eventually took off, and it appeared like he knew exactly where he was headed as I watched him disappear to my right. Turning my head back around to the left, I noticed that despite the sun rising for the day, the left brought dark clouds that were most definitely rain on its way. The bird, well-rested and focused, could observe and follow the sunshine.

Will you choose to find your resting place amid the various weather conditions around you? Doing so might just help you find your sunshine again. If you need help knowing your options, click this link to connect with us.

To Your Perfect Landing,

Suzanne Breistol