Doing home based school with my kindergarten aged son has given me a totally different, and increased, level of respect and appreciation for kindergarten teachers. I am convinced that their ability to get things done while working with people who are literally still learning manners and respect could be super useful to construction pros and world leaders alike. The attention spans and ability to focus are next to none for most kindergartners and as soon as they disengage, it's all but impossible to get them back on track and productive in a reasonable amount of time. Yet, kindergarten teachers make it happen on a daily basis with a bunch of unintentionally uncooperative and "rude" students. Plus, as the book title notes, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten."
Since the start of the at home school year, I've learned a few things from kindergarten teachers and learned that "grown up" construction pros aren't always that different from our kindergarten selves. I've learned:
Connect on your audience and your team's level - in construction, this might mean keeping the board room in the c-suite and out of the trailer with fewer suits and dirtier jokes when on site.
Keep things simple - don't over complicate things. Don't add unnecessary steps to processes or words to descriptions and discussions. Simplify the complicated and keep the simple, simple.
Positive reinforcement is best - "the carrot is mightier than the stick." Stickers work better than sticks. A sticker might work for kids and sometimes the right hardhat sticker works for construction pros.
Preparation precedes a strong performance - without preparation, expect failure. An online kindergarten classroom and a jobsite are chaotic places so a plan with multiple contingencies in place fosters success.
When in doubt, keep a positive attitude and keep moving forward - any progress is good progress. Sometimes, a good attitude at the end of a tough day is enough progress to wake up and try again tomorrow.
If a wise old superintendent or grizzled old PM are struggling to get a job on track, a kindergarten teacher (skillset) might be the solution everyone needs.
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