Dictionary.com defines communication as, "the act or process of communicating; fact of being communicated; the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing, or signs; something imparted, interchanged, or transmitted; a document or message imparting news, views, information, etc.; and a passage, or an opportunity or means of passage, between places."
Communication is vital to construction project success. If contract documents don't communicate the design intent correctly, building will be slower, more difficult, more costly, more everything. Understanding that perfection is nearly impossible in the real world, construction pros need to communicate questions and contract document clarifications clearly to the client, designer, subs, vendors and other team members.
Communication may even be more important when it comes to the relationships that build great projects. When "imparting or interchanging thoughts, options or information by speech, writing or signs," construction team members need to start early to build understanding and trust that will help a project succeed. When an inevitable issue arises, successful communication becomes even more critical. Bad or no communications results in more confusion, greater misunderstanding and fractured relationships. Teams shouldn't shut down when the don't see eye to eye or have different opinions on an issues. In many cases, the intent and end goal is the same but the path to get there is different. Don't shut down and keep talking (respectfully of course). Find common ground and shared values and work from there. Good ideas will usually win out and good teams will eventually determine a solution that best works for everyone. Just keep talking and working.
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