Leadership on design and construction projects
See also: Leadership styles.
Leadership is as important to the internal culture of construction organisations as it is in any other sector. Effective leadership is vital if a client’s needs are to be met and business improvement is to be maintained.
Leadership is a complex process that encompasses a wide range of behaviours, styles and traits, but the aim of leadership at its most simple is to successfully influence others to accomplish an objective.
The concepts of management and leadership are often confused. Managers tend to employ what are termed ‘hard skills’, i.e. planning, directing, organising, and so on. They are occupied with establishing clear targets, driving correct and best practice and making short-term decisions and plans. Whereas, leaders tend to employ ‘soft skills’, i.e. guiding, influencing, motivating, risk-taking, innovating and have a longer-term perspective.
Daniel Goleman popularised the theory that effective leaders have a high degree of emotional intelligence, with four key characteristics:
- Self-awareness.
- Self-management.
- Social awareness.
- Relationship management.
Other commonly cited traits of effective leadership include:
- Enthusiasm.
- Champion of change.
- Good communicator.
- Risk-tolerant.
- Visionary.
- Brave.
- Motivational/inspirational.
- Leads by example.
- Good delegator.
- Open to advice and other opinions.
It has been argued that the ‘ideal leader’ does not exist, and rather it is the combination of different factors dependent on the specific circumstance of the organisation or project that contribute to a strong leadership style.
In relation to construction, Chan’s 2008 case study involving 15 industry leaders identified three instrumental factors in leadership development; people, places and events.
The 1998 Egan Report ‘Rethinking Construction’ identified ‘committed leadership’ as one of five key drivers of change for the industry. Egan defined this as follows:
‘Management believing in, and being totally committed to, driving forward an agenda for improvement and communicating the required cultural and operational changes throughout the whole of the organisation. In construction, there is no part of the industry which can escape this requirement: it affects constructors, suppliers and designers alike.’
A 2008 report called ‘Leadership in the construction industry’ by CIOB found that there was a stark lack of leadership within the industry. Research suggested that within larger construction companies, 18% were not developing their leaders in any way, and 45% had no formal succession plan or leadership strategy.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Army training and civil engineering.
- Construction organisations and strategy.
- Egan Report.
- Emotional Intelligence in Construction.
- Integrated project team.
- Leadership styles.
- Project manager.
- Recruiting and retaining talent in the construction industry.
- Relationship management.
- Team building.
- Thought leadership.
Featured articles and news
Licensing construction in the UK
As the latest report and proposal to licence builders reaches Parliament.
Building Safety Alliance golden thread guidance
Extensive excel checklist of information with guidance document freely accessible.
Fair Payment Code and other payment initiatives
For fair and late payments, need to work together to add value.
Pre-planning delivery programmes and delay penalties
Proposed for housebuilders in government reform: Speeding Up Build Out.
High street health: converting a building for healthcare uses
The benefits of health centres acting as new anchor sites in the high street.
The Remarkable Pinwill Sisters: from ‘lady woodcarvers’ to professionals. Book review.
Skills gap and investment returns on apprenticeships
ECA welcomes new reports from JTL Training and The Electrotechnical Skills Partnership.
Committee report criticises UK retrofit schemes
CIOB responds to UK’s Energy Security and Net Zero Committee report.
Design and construction industry podcasts
Professional development, practice, the pandemic, platforms and podcasts. Have we missed anything?
C20 Society; Buildings at Risk List 2025
10 more buildings published with updates on the past decade of buildings featured.
Boiler Upgrade Scheme and certifications consultation
Summary of government consultation, closing 11 June 2025.
Deputy editor of AT, Tim Fraser, discusses the newly formed society with its current chair, Chris Halligan MCIAT.
Barratt Lo-E passivhaus standard homes planned enmasse
With an initial 728 Lo-E homes across two sites and many more planned for the future.
Government urged to uphold Warm Homes commitment
ECA and industry bodies write to Government concerning its 13.2 billion Warm Homes manifesto commitment.
From project managers to rising stars, sustainability pioneers and more.
Places of Worship in Britain and Ireland, 1929-1990. Book review.
The emancipation of women in art.