There are a lot of industries where networking is essential. It can be the key to success…and failure. One wrong move and a supplier can cut you off and then drag your name through the mud.
There are also a lot of industries that are close-knit with their competitors and then there are industries that are tight-lipped, like ours.
But the saying, 'loose lips sink ships,’ isn't always true. In actuality, talking to others—the transfer of knowledge—can not only help your company but can lead to better outcomes for us all.
When we network (communicate and collaborate) with vendors, owners, internal teams, subs, and yes, even other precon teams, we can overcome common problems we collectively face in construction.
Our client event held every year at APE is a great opportunity to network.What is Networking?
Business networking is the act of developing and fostering relationships with people, companies, and organizations within your industry.
The goal of professional networking isn’t to make a hard sale but to share experiences and knowledge and build trust.
Good networking is purposeful, meaningful, and mutually beneficial by adding value to both parties. Beck Technology's president, Stewart Carroll, says “When we remove the barriers from people working together and can share information, it reduces the cost of projects, it reduces risk, and increases the time that preconstruction teams have to perform high-value activities.”
Networking can help you grow your business by:
- Increasing profits through referrals
- Working smarter, not harder
- Attracting, developing, and retaining great precon talent
Increasing Profits Through Referrals
A LinkedIn study found that 76% of responders say that knowing the right people is key to getting ahead. The more you get out there and talk to others about what you know, what you’ve gotten right, and how you and your team have solved problems, the more trust you build. If you grow your reputation as a knowledgeable and successful estimator and contractor, the more referrals your company will receive. This goes for not only more potential owners reaching out to you, but also more subs willing to bid.
Further, regularly showing up to industry events, be them large or small, local, or national, demonstrates your reliability and passion for what you do.
Remember though, for as many people as you want to put in a good word for you, you need to equally be putting in a good word for them. Have a sub you really like working with? Pass their name around at industry events. Know someone whose team has embraced innovative technologies to help them make better project decisions? Introduce two of your contacts to each other if you know one could use the other’s tips or expertise.
The wider your network, the wider possibility of reaching more clients.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
Learning what has worked for others can help you streamline your workflows and be more efficient.One of the primary things we focus on at Beck Technology is collaboration. Not only does our construction estimating software, DESTINI Estimator eliminate information and communication silos, but we also are always finding ways to bring precon folks together. Whether it is through a panel discussion, client appreciation event, or a conference workshop, we love to facilitate conversations between estimators.
This is in no way for GCs to steal each other’s secrets but so that everyone in our industry is contributing to changing the future for the better. Most preconstruction teams face the same problems and networking helps everyone stay current on the latest technologies—what works and what doesn’t—and can help streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
Attracting, Developing, and Retaining Great Precon Talent
Networking with high schools, colleges, and other educational institutions can help bring awareness to the awesome world of estimating and help recruit new talent. Networking can also help you find estimators looking for new positions.
With networking comes knowledge. Providing your precon team the time to network and attend events helps them learn about new resources and processes that will save time, be more accurate, and win more work. When someone can grow in their career and become an invaluable member of the team, the more likely they will stay.
How Do I Network?
From large, national events to small, local organizations, there are many opportunities for those in the construction industry to network. First, join a professional organization like the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) which also has a yearly conference or the American Society of Professional Estimators. Beck Technology even has an online community for estimators to share what is and isn’t working. It’s a place to get inspired by others’ solutions or share a common struggle.
Events like ENR FutureTech, Advancing Preconstruction, and the Design-Build Conference & Expo all offer chances for precon professionals to network.
Tell Them Beck Tech Sent You
We foster communication and collaboration as often as possible in a variety of ways. In January, we were approached by DESTINI Estimator user Balfour Beatty who was in a joint venture project pursuit with another general contractor and DESTINI Estimator user, Gilbane Building Company, to see how they both could use the Team Estimating feature in DESTINI Estimator to work on the same estimate.
Though the capability to let different GCs work in another GCs estimate without seeing proprietary information isn’t available at the moment, our Customer Success team worked with Balfour Beatty and Gilbane to come up with a solution so they could both work in the same DESTINI Estimator estimate without disclosing any other information. Doug Maiden, Manager of Professional Services, says, “We made sure we had a very clean database that could be shared without giving away any company secrets."
We’re happy to say that Balfour Beatty, being the lead on the project, was awarded the contract!
