It is easy to neglect simple communication mistakes. In reality, these take a toll on the entire construction project and eventually the business itself. A construction company having trouble communicating its views, plans, and opinions to clients, subcontractors, suppliers, and employees will have a difficult time implementing construction work and achieving them on time. The section below lists the steps to create a comprehensive construction communication plan to help the company perform the construction project with ease. 1. Identify the Stakeholders for the Construction Project The first step in developing a construction communication plan is to have a clear outline and layout of the stakeholders for the project. Take the time to define the individuals or entities that need to be actively involved in various communication flows and who qualifies as a stakeholder of the construction project by establishing a hierarchy or group. The step is necessary to know who is responsible for signing off after accomplishing the construction work. Create a list of stakeholders for the entirety of the project in an accessible spreadsheet document. Make sure that the project team knows about the list from day one. Indicate essential information, including the full name, contact numbers, email addresses, job titles, and category. Stakeholders range from construction clients to employees and anyone who has involvement in the implementation of the project. 2. Indicate All the Communication Items After identifying the stakeholders for the project, gather a list of all the necessary communication items for the plan. Communication items refer to anything that requires communication methods during the implementation of the construction work. The core examples of these items include regular progress reports related to the project, budget status, project timeline, project milestones, project changes, and adjustments. It is best to include unexpected items to prepare you for any event or scenario. You can also indicate weekly reports and milestone updates as non-regular communication items. 3. List the Communication Strategies and Techniques To Use Once there is a clear list of communication items and what the communication needs are, think about and define the communication methods you plan to use in the construction communication plan. There is a possibility of using multiple communication methods, depending on the demand of the stakeholder and the communication item. In-person meetings are ideal for discussing major milestones and status updates in the presence of multiple stakeholders. When recording for in-person meetings, assign a person to take meeting minutes to have a record for discussion during the next. Email letters are advisable when communicating daily or weekly updates involving stakeholders. Create a folder to save each sent email for documentation. On-site discussions are ideal for regular inspections with a handful of stakeholders and record the discussions by jotting down quick notes. Meanwhile, instant messaging is the best way to inform stakeholders of urgent matters or changes that require immediate remedial action. 4. Develop an Effective Communication Plan After getting all the basic aspects into place, you can now collate all the information. Using a software program like Excel to record information comes in handy, especially if these files are transferable through instant messaging, customized reports, and mobile apps. Develop a rough draft of the construction communication plan wherein you match each communication item to a particular stakeholder. In the spreadsheet, input a list that details the person, their job title, stakeholder category, frequency of communication, communication strategy, communication item, and any other necessary information. 5. Find Possible Software Solutions that Meets and Delivers the Construction Communication Plan After completing all the necessary information, you will require a tool to help you compile the data. There are different software programs that the company can use for writing the construction communication plan. Whichever one you select, make sure multiple features help you communicate necessary information to stakeholders. For one, a direct messaging feature aids users to directly send messages to each other while automatically arranging and classifying each message according to categories. It makes referencing information easier in the future, having an archive for the documents in the construction communication plan. Choose software that allows push notifications to alert concerned stakeholders in emergencies and other significant information. Make sure one of the features allows you to become more organized with information and documents to emphasize better client communication as the principal goal, with web, mobile, email, and text communication that allows them to view individual topics. Another helpful feature allows you to share customized or edited reports. The data analysis that the software generates throughout the construction project produces valuable reports that contain a complete breakdown of information to clients and stakeholders.