Page 18 - NHBRC

CITY PRESS, 12 APRIL, 2015
The National Home Builders’ Registration Council (NHBRC) is investing in emerging female
entrepreneurs in the construction industry by enabling 80 of them to attend a business

development programme at the Gordon Institute of Business Science in Johannesburg

SOUND
BUSINESS
From left:
index
Gloria
Tshiloane,
Nandi
Maseng,
Resego
Leepile,
Raneah Carr,
Pulane
Mamabolo
and
Tshenolo
Keraetswe
PHOTO:
ELIZABETH
SEJAKE

PInstitute of Technology: So, I have some Focus on the
ositive language
Gloria Tshiloane of JGT Construction
and Projects, Pretoria and Ekurhuleni,
Gauteng, is a communications specialist
who studied at the Massachusetts
opportunity
idea of the importance of using language clearly and
positively. I don’t think it’s a good idea to use fancy words
with artisans. Keep the content simple and direct. Human
dynamics is really important, and the main thing is to
always get your message across and ensure it has been positive
well received.
Resego Leepile of Renanao Construction,
Mahikeng, North West: If you treat your workers
properly, not shouting at them but being firm and clear,
then they will respect you and work to the best of their
abilities.
Pulane Mamabolo of Mamondo Development and The customer is king. That is the maxim most
Construction, Polokwane, Limpopo: I so agree with
Resego. We need to be firm, but fair.
Raneah Carr of Carran Consulting Project and people follow in business. It’s not always true,
Development Management, Cape Town and Port
always go smoothly on a building site, something that is but we are often told that customers’ perceptions
Elizabeth: This is all about teamwork. But things do not
well known in the construction industry. There have even
been times when we have had to have police escort us are their reality, so use positive language and
to a site.
The art of patience patience when dealing with them. Work on
Tshiloane: Everyone working on a project needs to try
to exercise patience and understanding. For example, if keeping existing customers happy instead of
a client has changed his mind and decides he now wants
carpets and not the tiles he initially specified, then we, struggling to find new ones, NHBRC delegates
the contractors, need to be patient. The goal is to
accommodate everyone’s needs and being angry will just
make things worse. told Sue Grant-Marshall
Nandi Maseng of Shumosky Business Solutions and
Training, Boikhutso, North West: I have a different view.
Exercising patience takes time and is something we in the programme keeps moving as we can’t afford to stand still. subsequent changes have to be noted in that same book.
construction industry do not always have. It’s an extremely Keraetswe: Every passing day, quite literally, means money Then everyone knows where they stand.
time-demanding industry. We work to specific schedules. gained or lost. Leepile: I’ve experienced miscommunications between,
So, in theory, always being patient makes sense. In Carr: Most of us in the construction industry for example, the department of human settlements, a
practice, we need to move on. have learnt to be innovative when plans go municipality and a contractor. You can imagine the
Mamabolo: The more time you spend on a project, the wrong because of the curve balls we chaotic results. So ensure everything is really clear
more likely it is you may lose money on it. encounter. to everyone.
Tshenolo Keraetswe of Bondicept Construction, BE SURE Maseng: And sometimes all this wrangling
Mahikeng and Vryburg, North West: What I want to over who said what will delay what could have
get across is how demanding the construction industry Clear communication Is your builder registered been a three-month project into one that lasts
is in terms of gender, age and culture challenges. I would Carr: I was a project and development with the NHBRC? Check at a year. And that will cost you.
like everyone to know that we need to be brave and manager in the corporate sector for 15 years, www.nhbrc.org.za/builder-search
resilient to survive in it. so clear communication is critical. In the
Maseng: We have good laws in South Africa and, if construction industry, it is vital to get your or call 0800 200 824. For other Ensuring management
everyone complied with them, we’d develop much faster building brief upfront and for everyone on the questions, SMS 34263 with quality
as a country. Contractors like us often experience project to understand it. the keyword NHBRC. Mamabolo: I can’t stress enough the
problems with the communities in which we work. If you don’t, you run the danger of ending up SMSes cost R1.50 importance of managing the quality of your work.
with a white elephant for which nobody wants to If it has been specified that you use two coats of paint
take the blame. and you do only one, then you’ll be compromising on
The importance of making a sound Tshiloane: My company is mainly involved in quality. The end result will be that the client will not give
plan construction, maintenance and service, and so I must satisfy you business a second time.
Mamabolo: The planning you do before you even get the needs of my customers. I always say there are three words Maseng: And you need to ensure that the paint is
on to a site is really important. You may feel frustrated when it comes to communicating: listen, listen, listen. If you approved by the SA Bureau of Standards. You can’t use a
at the length of time spent on the planning stage, but in do this, you can tap into the bosom of your customer’s generic paint first and then paint over it with the SA Bureau
the end, the project will flow better and faster because requirements. of Standards one. The project manager will spot that from
you made a good plan. Keraetswe: Without clear a mile off.
Carr: This also has implications for the client. Looking instructions, you can run into Carr: Furthermore, you can use your
at plans helps him to visualise the end project far more trouble. For example, a project A project in partnership with the reputation for setting high standards as
clearly. This helps everyone involved in the project. manager might decide to change a marketing tool to ensure you will
Maseng: We always need a plan B. This is because we what the client has specified and then NHBRC always be called on again to work on
rely so heavily on several factors. Bad weather, the latter will be angry. You need to additional projects. Keeping busy is
inconsistent payments and an irregular service from get everything down in writing in the what we in the construction industry
suppliers can set you back. So make sure your working site instruction book and any need to do.