Of the skills that are in high demand right now, Planners are right up there with Quantity Surveyors and Estimators. They fulfil a vital role in project management, co-ordinating between various on-site teams, suppliers, and sub-contractors.

It’s certainly a challenging role, perhaps that’s why there are so few of them. Not everyone has the skills and industry experience to excel as a planner. So, what set’s a good planner apart from the rest? We highlight a few key skills that matter:

Detail oriented:

On site, there are hundreds of tasks happening at once, with each needing specific equipment, materials and expertise. Being detail oriented as a planner is essential as any delays in equipment or materials can throw off the entire construction schedule. There’s excellent technology to assist planners with co-ordinating everything that needs to happen, but they still need to have a good understanding on what’s needed and be able to see at a glance if something is amiss. This is only possible if you’re incredibly detail oriented.

Great Relationship Builder:

Planners have to co-ordinate with people on all levels of an organization, and this requires being able to build strong relationships easily. Treating everyone with the same level of respect goes a long way to building trust, and when there’s trust, people are more willing to collaborate and co-ordinate efforts. In a highly complex construction environment, this can make or break a project. The ability to build and maintain strong relationships can contribute significantly to keeping a project on track.

Organised:

A pivotal part of planning is co-ordinating the arrival of equipment and materials so that they are on site when needed. This requires a good understanding of the project as a whole, as well as being proficient in using planning and project management software. It takes a big picture understanding of the project to know which tasks to prioritise so that resources on site are optimised. No company wants to have hired plant machinery or labourers sitting idle on site as that’s an expense that could be avoided.

Strong Communicator:

Being a good communicator is not the same as simply giving instructions. A strong communicator enables others to understand what needs to be done in a way that gets them to take the right actions without delay or confusion. Misunderstandings happen all too easily, but this can be avoided when a planner is a strong communicator.