Working for 25 years in Building Construction, my main focus and concern were to reach the goal assigned by our clients, execute and complete the project to their satisfaction. Proudly our company motto has always been “Achieving client satisfaction and building concrete results”.
Recently, I started to notice that focusing on the results has overshadowed the construction journey. I had to look again about my Construction business and try to see it through my clarity and leadership lens.
This is how I see my construction business today.
Clarity & Purpose. The primary purpose of our work is to help the client materialize their goal. The client knows their needs; however, they do not have the clarity on how to materialize it. Our initial step is usually to create a concept, a perspective, or a three-dimensional drawing to help them see accurately what they want to achieve.
In other words, we assist the clients in having a clear vision of their goal – where they want to go, and what they want to do.
Saying Yes. Once the client is satisfied and clear of his vision, with a positive confirmation, the journey of Construction will begin.
The Journey. Generally, the client will be engaged in the process of execution and management of the works. Our challenge and our skill is to allow them to appreciate this journey of construction, where they can learn from it, and understand the nature of the works.
Since the client feels like they are the one who is undertaking the actual execution and feel that they are part of this construction journey, they will develop a close relationship to this journey, and in turn, to their project.
Partnership. The client team and our team become a partner in the creation of this project. The success of this construction journey is dependent on the success of the management of this partnership.
Final Goal. The final reward of this partnership is when we reach the completion, look back at the original drawing, and see them materialize as we have planned.
Similarity
As I reflect on the purpose of my work in construction, I came to realize that my Construction work and my Coaching practice are unbelievably similar. They may appear to be coming from different Contents, however, the Context is alike.
Clarity & Purpose. My coaching practice starts with the creation of clarity for the client’s goal which is highly essential to make sure which direction the coaching journey is going to navigate.
Saying Yes. A substantial commitment to the goal is highly essential to determine the genuineness of the goal and its authenticity.
The Journey. Full engagement of the client, an entire dedication, is essential in the coaching journey. The more the client will commit to the coaching journey, the more rewarded and the more successful it is, the more growth they will experience. All the works, the growth, the merit, and the joy are in the coaching journey.
Partnership. A partnership based on trust and responsibility between the coach and client is essential for a successful coaching journey.
Final Goal. Finally, the attainment of the goal as created is the celebration for both client and coach.
I hope as you are reading through, you are noticing the similarities between the construction works and the coaching practice.
The content of both disciplines have no resemblance whatsoever, adding that the work in construction involves several teams, with a diversity of people from both sides working on the same project.
It is only when I focused on the context of the work that I started seeing the similarities.
So how did I shift from seeing the content in construction to its context?
The more I started focusing on the journey, not the goal, on how the work is done, the more I was drawn to take charge of the construction team, the client team, and assume responsibility for their failure and success.
With this new lens, my construction work became similar to the coaching practice – a journey of service, growth and connection.
The content, situations and stories appear to take many forms in these two words, but my hat remains unchanged, leading from the same lens of presence and awareness.
How often do you pay attention on how you are leading?
How can you focus more on the way you lead?