I have been working on a project for the last three years. The project is an IPD contract. If you are unfamiliar with that contract style, it stands for integrated project delivery. The key parties involved in the project’s design, fabrication and construction aspects are all under a single agreement.

Essentially, the team is profitable together or we are not. It’s on all groups to work together to manage the target costs. When the contract is executed to the best of the team’s ability, it can lead to a very successful project. However, when not every team pulls its weight, frustrations kick in. 

Over those three years, I have been part of a team that is not working at its highest level. With that has come finger-pointing and a lack of accountability, creating frustrations at all levels. Would I love to walk away and make it someone else’s problem? Yes. However, it is my duty to see the project through to the end.

On a recent trip to the site, my coworker and I were walking around with the contracting team. Our goal for the day was to walk a mostly complete floor and create a list of incorrect or damaged items. Each room we entered added more and more items to the list and it was getting long. I could feel the tensions building in the contracting team, so I thought I would take the time with them to connect on a human level. 

This is where I have learned to appreciate the open-ended questions — and I’m not speaking about the classic Midwest line, “So, how about this weather?” 

I don’t remember the exact timing of me starting the conversation and, in reflection, I asked a very loaded open-ended question. I blurted out, “How do you feel about this process …?” Yeah, after three years of being irritated with this company, that’s what I chose to start with! Did I get a big response back, yes. Was I prepared for the response? I don’t think so. 

However, what this question did for the team was allow us to air our grievances in a safe environment. It was only the four of us who had been working closely, talking things out. Ultimately, I learned that I was frustrated with the wrong people. Yes, this individual has had his moments, but the true downfall to most of the team’s struggles started with the preconstruction team. 

Generally, the beauty of the IPD contract is that all the parties are involved in the project at the beginning, as opposed to waiting for the contract documents to come out. Project budgets are set and adjusted as the project progresses toward the target budget. The contracting team sits in on engagement sessions with the owner’s user group so they understand their needs and expectations at project closeout. 

Somehow, as this project progressed, we lost sight of these items, creating a mess. The two individuals from the contracting team I was walking around with that day were not part of the preconstruction team and they didn’t know; they were simply doing their best to complete the project. 

Their frustrations were the same as my frustrations; the difference was that I was projecting on the wrong people.

Did my frustrations go away that day? No, they didn’t. However, I found empathy for the group I have been working with daily. It restored my patience with them and allowed me to speak to them in a more honest way. 

Breaking the Tension

Next time you’re in a situation where you aren’t connecting with the team you’re working with, I highly recommend getting to know them on the human level. If you feel comfortable going all in and asking an open-ended question about the project, go ahead — but be prepared for the honest feedback that will get thrown back at you. Below are a few questions I like to use:

Do you have any big vacations planned for this summer (or next upcoming season)?

What was your first job?

If you could have a career in anything, what would you choose?

How did you get into this side of construction?

Did you grow up in this area?

Have fun with the questions, but remember, not everyone is into sports. If worse comes to worse and you can’t think of a good opening line, it is always OK to bring up the weather. I mean, how great was that 80-degree day we had last weekend?!