Leadership Challenges in Construction Projects: An Overview

M.K .Ramesh, BE (Civil Engineering), MBA, PMP, has over 30 years of experience in managing the construction of sub-stations and transmission lines for organizations operating in India’s energy sector. He has managed projects of various capacities, which also include experience in consultancy project work in the Middle East and Africa. He is a member of PMI Mumbai Chapter.

  Construction   Leadership   Talent Management  

With the inherent complexities of modern-day projects, the roles and responsibilities of a typical project manager are being redefined from traditional perceptions. Gone are the days when project managers were expected to deliver in defined contours. A successful PM must possess many attributes that can directly or indirectly address the various needs of diverse stakeholders.

Effective leadership qualities are more important today than ever before as project managers are being asked to maximize outputs with constrained budgets, limited skilled resources and reduced timelines. The traditional top-down style of leadership has undergone a metamorphosis; over time, more collaborative approaches (like team building, effective communication, consensus building and situational leadership) have evolved.

As a leader, a project manager is responsible for understanding the stakeholder matrix—and should have the capability to align their expectations with project requirements. The success of any project is primarily determined by a PM’s command over stakeholder engagement.

In this article, I will address the application of leadership qualities in regard to large infrastructure projects.

Challenges in Construction Projects
Any infrastructure project (like a highway or railway) is generally linear. Projects extended over vast geographical areas expose their elements …

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