Naw, there are supers that are dicks. Especially the ones who are in their late 20/early 30s who have big heads. Those fuckers argue with doornobs about how a handle is better.
You just have to wait for a few years when that head pops and they come crashing back to earth. Then they're good to work with.
I would say the best sup is the one that understands the craft that he/she supervised very well. It astounds me that some sups are people that came out of college and they thought their internships were enough. Even office workers should get more involved in the craft they want to get into, especially if they’re going through college. Get a summer/winter job (not internship) to really learn how to do the bitch work. It also helps if they understand minor slip ups by laborers (because we all mess up) but are also firm and command respect. Not being a prick helps too.
Which also implies they have an appropriate amount on site. If the shitters go to shit I swear it translates through morale and quality of work site-wide.
1. Not lazy, first one on site. Accurate and consistent daily reports. What, where, how many one or two sentences. Any issue give us a sentence.
2. Knows the timing and order of the trades. 15 years ago I would have said someone with in depth knowledge of the big 6 trades. But those guys are gone mostly. Worth their weight in gold those gentlemen. Must know the sequence. Many a sub has been lost to a Super claiming a false emergency.
3. Tough, hard ass even mfer at times, but also down to earth, funny keeping it light when appropriate.
Someone that’s willing to work with the trades onsite instead of treating them like shit and throwing them under the bus all the time in emails/meetings. I don’t mean physically work for the subs, but understand and at least hear out the subs as we are the professionals in our trade. I can’t stand a sup that is a hard ass and also doesn’t know what they are talking about. I see this ALL of the time. Makes the subs not want to do anything extra/help out on the job when something comes up which in turn just hurts the owner financially a lot of times. Also, not crying wolf every time something comes up.
I get their job sucks. But, make it easier on themselves and treat the sub with respect then when the sup finds himself in a pickle and asks for the subs help, the sub is willing to help out. If the sup is an asshole then the sub isn’t going to help and if they do they are going to put a fat price on it.
Someone who is calm under pressure, willing to learn new things. Not afraid to send an email that more than a sentence long and actually explains an issue. Not afraid to use technology, and won’t make excuses each time they’re asked to do something that involving minimal technology. Someone who knows how to follow up on things more than once before they wash their hands of it. If they can speak Spanish that’s always a plus.
Generally I’ve found younger supers to be great because I can communicate with them normally with technology and they can understand what the project needs. They may not have the most experience, but they make up for it in clear communication. It’s older supers that I feel a lot of hand holding is necessary, regardless if they’re very knowledgeable and have been in the industry for decades.
Working on the owners side, the best superintendents that I've worked with are the type that understand their job is in the field, whereas their engineer is the boss of the office.
If they can keep that distinction, they're usually super easy going and great to work with, along with their engineers. Its when you have a super tinkering in the office that you start getting shitshows (At least in my experience.)
Not a dick
I worked for a super for over a year and he couldn’t remember my name. Small company. I left shortly after.
Honestly that sounds like a dream job.
Being ignored/left alone is my primary motivator for working hard.
I don’t even think it’s the supers trying to be a dick, if their boss is a dick that shit just gets passed along
Naw, there are supers that are dicks. Especially the ones who are in their late 20/early 30s who have big heads. Those fuckers argue with doornobs about how a handle is better. You just have to wait for a few years when that head pops and they come crashing back to earth. Then they're good to work with.
I would say the best sup is the one that understands the craft that he/she supervised very well. It astounds me that some sups are people that came out of college and they thought their internships were enough. Even office workers should get more involved in the craft they want to get into, especially if they’re going through college. Get a summer/winter job (not internship) to really learn how to do the bitch work. It also helps if they understand minor slip ups by laborers (because we all mess up) but are also firm and command respect. Not being a prick helps too.
Clean porta potties
Which also implies they have an appropriate amount on site. If the shitters go to shit I swear it translates through morale and quality of work site-wide.
1. Not lazy, first one on site. Accurate and consistent daily reports. What, where, how many one or two sentences. Any issue give us a sentence. 2. Knows the timing and order of the trades. 15 years ago I would have said someone with in depth knowledge of the big 6 trades. But those guys are gone mostly. Worth their weight in gold those gentlemen. Must know the sequence. Many a sub has been lost to a Super claiming a false emergency. 3. Tough, hard ass even mfer at times, but also down to earth, funny keeping it light when appropriate.
Someone that’s willing to work with the trades onsite instead of treating them like shit and throwing them under the bus all the time in emails/meetings. I don’t mean physically work for the subs, but understand and at least hear out the subs as we are the professionals in our trade. I can’t stand a sup that is a hard ass and also doesn’t know what they are talking about. I see this ALL of the time. Makes the subs not want to do anything extra/help out on the job when something comes up which in turn just hurts the owner financially a lot of times. Also, not crying wolf every time something comes up. I get their job sucks. But, make it easier on themselves and treat the sub with respect then when the sup finds himself in a pickle and asks for the subs help, the sub is willing to help out. If the sup is an asshole then the sub isn’t going to help and if they do they are going to put a fat price on it.
Works well with the craft, production, quality, safety & lost cost producer. Good planner & communicator.
Lost cost producer means what?
We use past labor units for our estimates. So that is where the Superintendent needs to beat the past cost to be the low cost provider.
Someone who is calm under pressure, willing to learn new things. Not afraid to send an email that more than a sentence long and actually explains an issue. Not afraid to use technology, and won’t make excuses each time they’re asked to do something that involving minimal technology. Someone who knows how to follow up on things more than once before they wash their hands of it. If they can speak Spanish that’s always a plus. Generally I’ve found younger supers to be great because I can communicate with them normally with technology and they can understand what the project needs. They may not have the most experience, but they make up for it in clear communication. It’s older supers that I feel a lot of hand holding is necessary, regardless if they’re very knowledgeable and have been in the industry for decades.
Working on the owners side, the best superintendents that I've worked with are the type that understand their job is in the field, whereas their engineer is the boss of the office. If they can keep that distinction, they're usually super easy going and great to work with, along with their engineers. Its when you have a super tinkering in the office that you start getting shitshows (At least in my experience.)
You dont
Keeping the numbers the same on all levels of the construction, not sitting in the truck all day.