Four Personalities That Must Exist in

a Construction Company

by Charles Vander Kooi, ConcreteNetwork.Com Columnist

The management of a construction company and individual projects requires a team effort. The team must be made up of four personality types within us. If you are a small company, you must do the things that all four personality types must do. That is why you often get frustrated and may not do all the things you need to do to run your company successfully.

Below are the four personality types related to the building of one project. As you read this, ask yourself this question, which of the two am I? It is important for you to know so that you can surround yourself with people who are diametrically opposed from you in personality.

The first type I call the "Idea Person." The Idea Person may be an architect, interior designer, computer programmer, or an artsy person. You can always tell an Idea Person because he or she will say, "I have an idea." Most ideas are stupid and impractical. But there are the few good ones, and every team and every project needs an Idea Person to put the company on the cutting edge with those few good ideas so the company can make the most money.

I have been involved with a company that was being run by the third generation. The grandfather started the company in 1908. They have his original truck and loader restored and parked in the yard. They say to me, "We are still doing things like our granddaddy did them."

I say, "I know, I can smell it. It smells like formaldehyde or mothballs around here."

The people in this company have not had a new idea in 30 years. They are so far from the cutting edge that their company prospects are as dull as a butter knife.

I have 20 acres and I am going to build a brand new hotel and convention complex. Who is the first person I call? The architect. He comes out on my 20 acres and says, "I have and idea. Lets build a hotel that looks like a giant escargot."

I say, "Thats a good idea, draw it up." Every company and project needs an Idea Person in order to keep the company current and profitable.

The second personality type I call the "Happening Person." Happening people are contractors. They like to take someone elses ideas and create them. Where there is nothing they want to see something created by the force of their will and at their command. They are focused and driven, and are not satisfied until they have made something happen.

I have 20 acres and I am going to build a brand new hotel and convention complex. Who is the first person I call? The architect. He comes out on my 20 acres and says, "I have and idea. Lets build a hotel that looks like a giant escargot." He draws it up and I put the job out to bid. I receive three bids and award it to a contractor. The contractor calls in the surveyors, the bulldozers, the concrete people, the steel erection people, the glazing people, the roofers, carpenters, plumbers, mechanical people, the electricians, the pavers, the painters, the carpet layers, and the landscapers. They make that hotel happen. Why? Because they are happening people.

Every company and every project needs happening people. Have you ever been to a meeting where everybody has ideas? And, after everybody had told their ideas you leave that meeting and you have a funny feeling, which is that nothing is going to come of all those ideas and nothing is going to change because of those ideas. Do you know why? Because there is no Happening Person there who will go through those ideas, take one and be focused and driven until they have made that idea happen and see it working.

The third personality type is what I call the "Managing Person." Managing people are coaches of baseball teams, hockey teams, basketball teams and football teams. Behind the white line of every football field stands a head coach. He has hired an offensive coordinator, a defensive coordinator, a line coach, a backfield coach, and a defensive backfield coach. They are all managing people. They dont go out on the field and take a snap, they do not run the ball, pass the ball, catch the ball, block any one or tackle anyone. They manage all the details of what goes on in the field. They make sure that the team is in the right city with the right uniforms at the right time. When it is time to kickoff or receive, they make sure the right number of players is on the field. When it is fourth down with a yard to go, they decide if the team should punt, go for a field goal or try for the one yard.

I have 20 acres and I am going to build a brand new hotel and convention complex. Who is the first person I call? The architect. He comes out on my 20 acres and says, "I have and idea. Lets build a hotel that looks like a giant escargot." He draws it up and I put it out to bid. I award it to a contractor who makes that hotel happen. They give me the keys. Now who do I need? I need a hotel manager who will hire an assistant manager, a manager of guest services, a food service manager, a housekeeping manager and a catering manager. They see to all the details of what goes on in a hotel. They make sure that you get checked in, that the rooms are clean and have the little shampoos that you can steal. They make sure meetings are set up and food is prepared.

Every company and every project needs managing people. They make sure the payables are paid, the receivables are received, payroll is made, materials are ordered, paper work is done, and work is bid.

The fourth personality is the Maintenance Person. Over 70 percent of the American work force are maintenance people. You can always tell a Maintenance Person, because they will always come to you and ask what people they should take, what tools they should take, what truck they should take. They want you to tell them exactly how to do the job and they will do it just the way you tell them.

I have 20 acres and I am going to build a brand new hotel and convention complex. Who is the first person I call? The architect. He comes out on my 20 acres and says, "I have and idea. Lets build a hotel that looks like a giant escargot." He draws it up, I put it out to bid and award it to a contractor. They make the hotel happen. They give me the keys and I hire a manager who hires other managers and hires 200 maintenance people. People who come in every day and ask what they are supposed to do, what rooms they are to clean, and what food they are to prepare, and how to set up each meeting room. Every company needs maintenance people who will get the work done. They are the ones who are really building America and they are the engine of American business.

Do you know which of these personalities come easily to you? It is important because you need to surround yourself with people who are different from you, who can be strong in areas where you are weak. If you are an Idea Person and a Happening Person, who is going to manage and maintain the ideas that you come up with and make happen? If you are a Managing and Maintenance Person, who is going to have the new ideas that make money; whos going to make them happen in your company and on your projects?

So, build yourself a good and a complete team by including all these different types of people in your company. Now, lets look at what effect one large group of people has on your industry.

Seminars offered by Charles Vander Kooi
Estimating & Bidding Balancing Estimating, Job Costing, and Accounting People Management

Charles Vander Kooi Biography:

Charles Vander Kooi has been involved in the construction industry for over 30 years, thirteen as an upper-management employee of companies and seventeen as a consultant. He has bed over a billion dollars in work over his career. As a private consultant, he has helped over 1,200 companies in their estimating/bidding systems and has lectured to over 70,000 contracting people nationally and internationally.

Constantly in demand, Mr. Vander Kooi speaks at an average of 100 Trade Shows and Conventions annually, teaching his philosophy across the U.S., Canada and Australia. His company consults with an average of 100 clients annually to assist in improving their performance.

He has authored eight books to the industry and his seminars are available on audiocassettes as well as videos.

Vander Kooi and Associates, Inc.
Phone: 303.697.6467, Fax: 303.697.6815

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