Young Assistant Superintendent Needing Advice

MadDog

A year ago I got hired on as an Assistant Superintendent with one of the most successfull Condo Conversion/ New construction builders in Canada and now in the U.S.

I was working as a detailer at the begining for a labor providor then was hired on from there. During the course of that 10 month project a Superintendent on another job left the company so My Sup left to take over and I was left to run the project as the Superintendent. Shortly after that our Project Manager quit and I was left having to not only run and close down the project (123 homes/13 buildings. 100% interior/exterior/landscaping, carports, clubhouse, asphault ect.) but was given the authority by our company V.P to handle bidding and pretty much whatever else needed to be done to finish up the project because he had nobody at hand to do it. So now I was doing the PM's job as well.

To make a long story short, I finished the job ahead of schedule with every home signed off by their homeowners stating all deficiencies where taken care of.

Out of the 7 projects we have done of this size this was the first to be 100% wrapped up ahead of schedule.

I considered this a fairly incredible accomplishment considering I only have 4 years of construction experience and no college what so ever. I just had a handfull of good laborors and a good detailer. We finished it as a team, knocking out each home and turning it over for its orientation sometimes the day before closing.

So here I am now, the project is closed down and I am back to being an assistant on another property that is 100 miles from where I live. I am fine with being an assistant because I want as much time to prepare as I will be allowed. I will be ready for a perm promotion when the president feels I can better serve the company as a Superintendent.

My problem is I am working under a new Superintendent, who is working under a new Project Manager. These guys just got hired on a year after I started and are hard core and full of talent. Im just feeling a bit lost in the shuffle. I feel like im not contributing anything that is producing great results because these guys seem to have EVERYTHING in their hands.

I judge myself based on what I produce (because like all of you, we ARE what we produce). Im feeling massive anxiety over all of this and coupled with getting 4 1/2 hours of sleep every night because of the 6 hours I spend driving every day im worried that im about to hit a wall in my company.

I feel like I could not go to work for a week and it wouldnt effect anything. I take care of every inspection and push my Sub Contractors to stay on schedule but it doesnt feel like enough. I feel like something is missing.

Maby im loosing my mind from lack of sleep, or maby Im feeling inadaquate due to my lack of experience compared to my Superintendent, maby its because im only 28 and need more time with these guys, I dont know. (I was told I was hired for my talent and tanacity). Either way, I feel like im on the verge of a nervous break down. At my first project I was kicking ass and taking names. I knew everything that was going on and my Sub Contractors would do anything for me. Here I feel like a 5th wheel.

Im sorry if this doesnt make much sense, im tired and venting. If any of you guys have any advice to give im all ears.

Thankyou in advance for your time.

mikesewell

This is a serious question, and it is not my intention to make fun of you or put you down in any way.

Do you REALLY feel like you are in danger of having a nervous breakdown?

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Commercial construction

Sewell Construction

boman47k

You got called on to move a moutain, and you moved it. Now you are back to kicking down mole hills, comparably speaking. Not saying the job you have now is not important. I'm sure there are a lot o f people that would love to have your present position. You don't say at what stage you came in on the big project. Take that into consideration if you are feeling you are ready to take on projects of that size from start to finish. Were the people you are working under now hired in their present position or were they promoted over you? You may be fortunate to have been able to show what you can accomplished when called upon. I would think this would put you on the fast track for promotion as other more demanding openings come along.

Btw, that commute sounds draining.

MadDog

I started on the big project right when the project begain. (three weeks prior to our soft opening) so I was part of putting the two model homes together and turning the first batch of homes.

As for my super and pm, these guys where hired from outside the company. Now dont get me wrong, these guys are great and im taking this opportunity to learn as much as I can from them, they have taught me a lot. If they where promoted over me I would have been fine with that, I understand buisness. You put your people where they serve the company best and I can accept being on the recieving end of that.

This job is 1/2 the size of my first and is running a lot cleaner. We have some stronger contracts and diffent subs.

MadDog

The stress is building and compounding every day in a way that it never has before and im worried I wont be able to manage it. Sometimes i honestly feel that way.

realpurty2

The business end of it- My first suggestion would be to make an appointment with the big bosses and make your wishes for promotion known. Many times companies hire outside instead of promoting withing because no one expresses interest in the position openings. Use your successful project as a credentials that you are ready to be a Super. Sell yourself and your abilities with confidence.

The personal end- It will be hard to keep your mind from stewing on the fact that you were bypassed for a promotion, which will lead to eventual disatisfaction with your current position. It's nearly impossible from the employee's standpoint to determine why you didn't get the job, so don't beat yourself up on it. It's stress for nothing. Instead, set yourself a time line in which you are willing to stick with. If by the date you choose, you haven't received some form of company promotion or recognition, it's time to start job scouting. Use the time between now and your target date to learn all you can from the PM and Super your currently working under. Think of it as on-the-job training to reduce the stress.

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Woman in a Man's World.

thecurbguy

Like you I also came up fast (1yr) from laborer tieing rebar mats, to full blown superintendent for concrete on commercial sites. My challenge isn't dealing with subs, it's managing sometimes as many as 4-5 sites at once working, 4-5 pre-starts, and as many finish-ups as well. Not to mention keeping up with commercial construction codes.
But I was also thrown in when the Superintendent quit. I came up fast enough that now I've had to step back and evaluate what I missed learning on the way up. I've called in another super i respect highly to give me some objective opinions.
If I had had the opportunity to learn from -hot supers and pm's after doing the job for awhile it wouyld have been a tremendous learning experience.
One of the hardest lessons I've learned though is if it has you on the verge of a breakdown you need to backup and be more removed.
It's possible that what your company saw was some one who eats, sleeps, and breathes their job. Maybe what they are waiting on is for you to be more rounded.You can't determine your value by your job. Eventually there will be one that goes South on you, and if you determine your value by it you may not survive.

boman47k

Basically what I was thinking if he had a substantial part in the early stages and didn't just go by a blueprint already laid out so to speak.

Strike while the iron is hot if you feel you are ready. Maybe you are being groomed now.

mikesewell

Please take this SERIOUSLY.

Do WHATEVER IT TAKES to make this feeling GO AWAY.

Believe it or not, your position on the corporate ladder is NOT the cause of this feeling, the ROOT of this feeling lies somewhere else within you. The job is just causing it to surface.

You need to talk to someone (it might be anyone) IN PRIVATE about HOW YOU FEEL. You need to work on this. This feeling may go away for a while (for whatever reason) but it will be back again later.

Work on it now, early in your career. The longer you wait, the more damage it will do to you, and to your career.

Your inner self is giving you a warning. Take it SERIOUSLY.

Best wishes to you my friend,
Michael

P.S. My email address is on the contact page of my website.

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Commercial construction

Sewell Construction

shelf guy

the feeling you are describing, the overwhelming stress, i know what you mean, and its horrible. you have to do what you have to do.

boman47k

Thinking about this, I think maybe you should take Mike's advice to heart.

mikesewell

Good for you for understanding.

Construction management is not just about rebar and wide-flange beams. It's about people.

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Commercial construction

Sewell Construction

Metrojoebarbs

You can say that again

mikesewell

And good for you as well.

These projects don't just build themselves, people build them; from the ditch, all the way to the office.

A good commander takes care of his troops. On my jobsite, anyone who will not understand this is GONE.

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Commercial construction

Sewell Construction

MadDog

Thankyou,

Im think my anxiety is stemming from not getting enough sleep, trying to learn the expectations of a new boss, getting used to a new site, living off of coffee and Rockstar energy drinks, and struggeling to find my place at our new site. I spent some time today writing out a new daily routine and that helped vent some stress but I still have a stong underlying sense of dread. (like something bad is comming). From the outside I have nothing to worry about. The president and Vice president are confident in my abilities and respect me and my new PM has a lot of confidence in my skills. What drives me crazy is the fact that I used to not even think about what my superiors thought of me because I was confident in my abilities and I knew I was producing great results, now I feel so insecure about EVERYTHING I cant stand it.


Maby I need to start taking drugs....

(jk)

mikesewell

Not your best idea so far.

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Commercial construction

Sewell Construction

MadDog

True, I dont want to end up like my painters lol.

Mud Master

You need to take everything one day at a time. Focus on today and not tomorrow, your dreading what MAY happen is only grounds for worse things to come. Take a detailed inventory of yourself: your feelings, your strengths and weaknesses, what triggers your emotions and what does not, etc..

Sometimes the feelings we have are being underlined by something else. Stress is dangerous, it can lead to anxiety,both normal and social, it can lead to sickness, and depression. To avoid this you need to get to the root of it all, and by allowing yourself to inventory all your emotions, you may find that the answer is something you didn't know exsisted in the first place.

If you do need anyone to talk to, people who have been there and can give you unbiased advice...please talk to them. Mike is an excellent source of advice, as is everyone on this site. You can PM me also anytime you feel you need to.

Good luck buddy.

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StormTech

I think you are very fortunate. Being 28 years old and already have gotten the chance to see what you can do. Your first rodeo as a superintendent appears to have went very well. Keep in mind its pretty easy to kick butt and take names when things are going great. Its when they slow down and an end to it is not in sight that we should evaluate our own selfworth. Breath in, breath out brother. Sounds like you can do a great job when given the opportunity and trust me another opportunity will come along. You have done well and now you just need to learn another good leaders trait.....patience. Good luck to ya and keep the faith.

WNYcarpenter

The president and Vice president are confident in my abilities and respect me and my new PM has a lot of confidence in my skills. What drives me crazy is the fact that I used to not even think about what my superiors thought of me because I was confident in my abilities and I knew I was producing great results, now I feel so insecure about EVERYTHING I cant stand it.

You've got to get this off your chest! I've been dealing with a similar situation. I moved up quickly as well and when the abundant reassurance stopped I was deflated. I started questioning everything I was doing. I'm hyper-aware of myself and coming off a high from a previously successful job to not living up to my own expectations I talked with my PM, I expressed how I was feeling and now I feel much better about the situation.

I'm sure that if your employers could read this thread they'd be thankful they had someone with your passion working for them. I like to think if you're honest with them they'll be honest with you.