iPM Archetype #3 - The Builder
By becoming a better builder, you'll not only be able to lead your team more effectively, but you'll also be able to contribute to the success of the project in a more meaningful way.
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Today’s Overview:
Welcome to Part 3 of a 7 part series covering the (7) Archetypes that make up an Influential and Well-Rounded Project Manager. These are the behavior patterns that produce predictable outcomes and career growth. Today, we’re going to deep dive into the third archetype: The Builder.
The "Builder" archetype is a term used in psychology to describe a personality type that is focused on creating, constructing, and making things. People with this archetype are known for their practicality, resourcefulness, and problem-solving skills. In today’s issue, we explore how channeling the builder archetype increases your influence as a project manager.
iPM Archetype #3 - The Builder
My mission with The Influential Project Manager Newsletter is to provide project managers and the next generation of builders with tools and frameworks to run a high performing, reliable, successful project.
If you’re not a subscriber yet, here are the first two posts in the series you missed:
Because the role of project manager is is so dynamic, you need to a combination of rare skills and character attributes to succeed.
The PM role requires you to operate in multiple domains, wear several different hats, manage lots of personalities, hurdle many obstacles, and know how to run a business.
The more complex the project, the higher demand for these rare combination of skills.
In effort to turn the chaos into clarity, I developed a framework to teach myself and others how to thrive in this environment called the 7 Archetypes of the Influential Project Manager:
The Builder
The Leader
The Business Developer
The Attorney
The Accountant
An archetype is defined as a recurrent symbol or a set pattern of behavior.
Examples of common character archetypes include The Mother, The Father, The Child, The Shadow, The Persona, The Magician, and The Hero among others. Each character acts out certain patterns of behavior that we have become attuned to over time.
From my experience building $300M+ in construction projects, the most successful project managers exhibit the (7) archetypes because they optimize the 7 dials of project value, making them highly influential.
QUALITY | QUANTITY | COST | TIME | SAFETY | RELATIONSHIPS | FUNCTION
No more guessing if your project will come in on time, under budget, or involved in an expensive lawsuit. The 7 archetypes of the Influential Project Manager will direct your focus on what drives the most value.
In effort to uphold the mission, today we’re going to deep dive into the third archetype: The Builder.
The "Builder" archetype is a term used in psychology and mythology to describe a personality type that is focused on creating, constructing, and making things.
People with this archetype are known for their practicality, resourcefulness, and problem-solving skills. They are driven by a need to build and create, and often have a natural talent for working with their hands.
In mythology, the Builder archetype is often represented by gods of craftsmanship and creation.
In terms of personality psychology, the Builder archetype represents an individual's innate tendencies and motivations to create, construct, and make things.
People with this archetype are often seen as grounded, practical, and focused on results, and they are valued for their ability to bring order and stability to the world around them. However, they may also struggle with flexibility and innovation, as their focus on structure and practicality can sometimes lead to a narrow perspective.
Now how does this apply to construction project management?
Typically every project team is coupled with a lead Project Manager and a lead Superintendent. The two act as business partners to manage the dials of project value and deliver a successful outcome.
The Builder is the archetype of the seasoned superintendent and the technical knowledge that come from that background.
In order to be the best manager, you should understand and be able to interact with the work you are managing. This means exercising the builder archetype.
The iPM is not the project manager who attempts to manage work and lead people through an excel spreadsheet.
Instead, the Influential Project Manager can talk the talk and walk the walk. They too can build in such a fashion that minimizes waste and maximizes value.
Modeling the Builder archetype will help project managers in the following ways:
Be seen as the go-to industry expert
Understand and remove constraints
Communicate project updates and timelines
Defend their schedule
Quickly identify when someone isn’t being honest
Plan & coordinate the work with confidence
Communicate technical needs to stakeholders
Mitigate risk exposure and scope gaps
If you want to become The Influential Project Manager (the PM every owner wants on their projects) then you must channel your inner builder.
Let’s dive in and break down the qualities that make a first-class builder, so you too can model them.
4 Key Qualities That Make a Great Builder
The "builder" archetype refers to a person who is practical, hands-on, and results-oriented, and focuses on getting things done in a timely and efficient manner.
By becoming a better builder, you'll not only be able to lead your team more effectively, but you'll also be able to contribute to the success of the project in a more meaningful way.
Here are 4 qualities that make you a better builder, and therefore, a more influential project manager.
Technical Knowledge
Building process
Building materials & methods
Building codes and regulations
Understanding of engineering principles
Familiarity with construction equipment & tools
Seeing whats NOT shown in the construction documents
Understands principles of LEAN Construction
Leader of construction site safety
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