Becoming an effective foreman is like playing baseball.
In baseball you must reach all four bases before you score a run that contributes to the success of your team. As a foreman, there are four fundamentals, essential principles you must master to become effective and contribute to the success of your crew, your project, and your company.
As a foreman, you won’t need to abandon the strong points that got you where you are today. But you’ll need to focus on four very important fundamentals that are probably new to you because they haven’t been necessary to your earlier success as a journeyman or apprentice.
They’re essential now!
As a foreman, you’re in the middle — a key link in the chain between the people who won the project & designed The Plan and the crew members who must put your part of The Plan in place. Those who work for you — and those you work for — are both counting on your effectiveness and support.
Reach All the Bases and You’ll Succeed
As a foreman, the Four Basic Fundamentals of Jobsite Supervision will always be in the back of your mind. They’ll affect every action you take:
- As a foreman, you’ll get to first base when you establish your authority and set up reasonable standards and limits for your crew.
- As a foreman, you’ll make it to second base when you learn how to get results thru your crew.
- As a foreman, you’ll reach third base when you make safety, quality, and productivity part of every plan, every decision — every day.
- As a foreman, you’ll “make it home” when you become a confident and respected leader.
This is what it means to think like a foreman. You win a baseball game when your team scores more runs than the opposing team. As a foreman, you win when you and your crew help to bring in your project with no accidents, quality that meets or exceeds specs, under budget, and on time.
Stuff To Think About. Take a minute to skim these posts to get an overview of the ideas, techniques, and skills covered in this blog.
– Establish your authority and set up reasonable standards and limits
– Get results thru your crew
– Make safety, quality, and productivity part of every plan, every decision, and every day
– Become a confident and respected leader
