The construction field is changing in a lot of ways, but it's remained stagnant in others. It often lags compared to its industry peers, especially concerning technological advancement and productivity.

Research from McKinsey & Co. states that over the past two decades, this sector's productivity growth has averaged only 1% compared to 2.8% for the world economy. There are plenty of reasons why this stalemate exists, with risk aversion being a primary factor.

A risk-averse company culture isn't impossible to change, however. It takes a comprehensive restructuring of operations, but it can be done. Construction professionals must first be willing to rebuild from the ground up and encourage new behaviors among their workers.

Current Struggles in Construction

The construction industry deals with many issues—low productivity, slow adaptation, lack of collaboration and fear of innovation are a few. Most of these problems influence each other as well as the entire business. No collaboration means fragmented communication and sluggish productivity. This can cause a struggle between employees and higher-ups once the company switches to newer methods.

All these factors combine to explain why hiring workers is becoming harder. People don't want to work for organizations that are reluctant to face innovation. It's easy to stick to the status quo and only do what supervisors ask, but many individuals want more from their jobs.

Numerous construction managers prefer to stick to what they know rather than explore other options. The straightforward way offers the least resistance and adversity, but it also sacrifices transformation. Leaders in a rut see that people have used the same equipment and processes for years, and they ask, why change?

The reason lies with their competitors and revenue stream. Executives who are willing to step outside the box and offer new concepts move ahead of everyone else. These professionals know how to adapt to changing work environments and customer needs.

Countless businesses lose to their competitors because they don't prioritize change, but they can close the gaps by adopting new practices.

The Benefits of a Forward-Thinking Culture

Forward-thinking jobs promote creativity and open communication. When people are receptive to risk, it's easier for them to envision a project's success rather than its failure. Even if an assignment doesn't turn out as everyone expected, employees can learn something from the process.

Accepting blunders is part of what makes an innovative company culture, though superiors should establish measures to ensure productive versus unproductive failure. Productive failures yield practical solutions and new ideas, while unproductive ones cost a company time and money. If the losses pile higher than the gains, professionals should try different approaches to gleaning positives from unfavorable situations.

Open communication is often a plus in the workplace—and it should be constructive whenever possible. Discussions won't travel far if everyone's arguing, but actionable feedback gives everyone something to work on without feeling berated or unacknowledged.

Opening the floor for multiple perspectives can lead to better concepts and higher-quality work. BIM technologies let co-workers see each other's ideas up close while suggesting modifications or fixing errors. Collaborative software targets the technological and humanistic aspects of designing projects.

Introducing New Technology

If construction companies want to move forward, they'll need to encourage buy-in by upgrading their practices to fit modern systems. Otherwise, this industry could find itself outside in the cold as advancements in tech and workplace culture continue. Questioning the tried-and-true methods can lead to new ones.

User-friendliness is the main concern when introducing a new technology or process. Many types of construction technology exist and are currently developing, but not every invention will fit all companies. Purchasing the latest tools and software without testing them or determining if workers can adjust to them will increase productivity problems.

Real-time technology, such as wearables and fleet management software, allows managers to spot errors as they happen and fix them immediately. Cloud-based data lets everyone access and collaborate on documents at the same time while on the field. Employees can leave the dark days of construction behind and begin using equipment that's in line with contemporary methods.

Even establishing a solid communication strategy—from apprentices to managers—can eliminate the confusion and lost productivity of a typical worksite. Mobile devices and VR glasses let co-workers review plans even when they're in different locations. When clients know a business is working with skilled employees and excellent tools, they're more willing to collaborate with them over others.

Altering the Landscape of Modern Construction

Changing company ideals is often a gradual process, but executives can achieve it by prioritizing business and employee needs. What's best for the organization may be unfamiliar, but it's worth doing to enhance operations. Contractors must be ready to take the necessary risks to move forward in the industry.