By Stacey Holsinger, Jennifer Hottle, Mary Beth Kingsley, and Sandy Palmerton 
 

As societies become more inclusive, women are transitioning from scoring positions to slugger status and their stats are rising. Like baseball, there is no crying in construction. Similarly, the construction industry requires 100% team participation. Each department plays a critical role in helping the company avoid a loss and achieve a win (completing a project on-time and within budget).  

Historically and stereotypically, construction is a male-dominated field. Although currently less than 10 percent of the construction industry workforce is female, that number is rapidly on the rise. Why? Because construction firms that are aiming to compete successfully in tomorrow’s marketplace have revealed that women have a positive impact on productivity and profitability. 

While women have made major advancements in the sports industry, we are just coming up to bat in construction. Over the last five years, we can safely say, we are no longer sitting on the bench. In fact, there has never been a better time to be a woman in construction. All over the industry, women are hitting home runs in leadership roles when they gain the courage to step up to the plate.  

We should know. The four of us are in key roles at Shapiro & Duncan, Inc., a third-generation family-owned mechanical contracting business serving customers in the Washington, D.C. area since 1976. The company also made a historic move and promoted four women on their leadership team this year  

Why Women Make Effective Leaders in Construction 

Beyond the broad economic benefits provided by more gender diversity in the workforce, recent research by the National Bureau of Economic Research highlights particular leadership qualities embodied by women that contribute to a healthier bottom line. In particular, the research shows more women in leadership are helpful for a company’s overall success because women are more likely to collaborate and facilitate teamwork.  

As construction professionals already know, construction projects require a high-level of collaboration in order to be successful. Adding individuals with an affinity towards this type of communication can only improve overall workforce productivity.  

A Challenging Path to Leadership 

No doubt, it has been intimidating to be one of very few women on a jobsite or in a room at a construction networking event, training session, or project meeting. Many of the male attendees have years of experience in a trade or a background in construction management; whereas women are up and coming.    

Construction lingo doesn’t always come easy. Regardless of gender, you have to really put yourself out there and ask questions. The more conversations you have; the easier it gets. Learning construction terminology and gaining a great understanding of the process will help build your confidence in the industry. 

Additionally, it is a huge advantage to work for a supportive company that is willing to provide the freedom to try new things and opportunities to develop new skills. Fortunately, Shapiro & Duncan has always been proficient at identifying people who have ambition and skill development potential. This is one of the main reasons the company has excellent employee engagement and retention, and has built a solid company culture.  

Those of us who started in the industry 15 or 20 years ago vividly remember that there were no women in leadership roles to set an example or offer support. Fast forward to today; if you walk a jobsite it might look a little different. A majority of projects have female team members in key leadership roles such as Senior Project Manager and even Lead Architect. Although we are still a noticeable minority, the prominence of women in the construction industry is quickly evolving. 

Keeping Women in the Game 

What has to happen for the construction industry to expand leadership opportunities for women?  

• Provide resources for women in construction and encourage participation in key organizations such as the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC), Professional Women in Construction (PWC) or Women Building Washington (ABC Metro Washington).    

• Establish a mentorship program by partnering a seasoned or advanced employee with a female who is new to the industry.  

• Identify female influencers to help your organization recruit more women into the construction industry by lending support, sharing personal stories, and reflecting on the positive aspects and rewards of being in this industry in panel discussions. 
   
• Provide your female employees with opportunities for professional development, education, networking, leadership training and public service. 

Plan for a Healthy Bottom Line Before, During and After the Game 

The talent shortage in the construction industry is a harsh reality. The HVAC industry alone needs to replace 71,000 positions that have been lost in the last five years. This grave labor shortage extends from the apprentice level all the way to the executive suite.  

As this shortage continues, it is critically important for the C-suite to consider women in the leadership mix – demonstrating growth opportunities to them will increase retention. Now is the time for stakeholders to reevaluate their teams. You might be achieving diversity, but are you ensuring “inclusivity?” Diversity is being invited to attend the game; inclusion is being asked to play! Women should be considered in all phases of the construction process from pre-project planning, construction, closeout and final feedback. 

Women are a natural fit in the collaborative construction culture where team building, problem solving and decision-making skills are essential in leading and advancing teams that ensure the success of projects and the business overall. 

Fortunately, more and more companies are starting to understand that women in construction are an abundant untapped resource. At the same time, women are beginning to see construction not just as a field where they might get their hands dirty, but more so as an area of personal and business growth opportunity. 

Given the right opportunities, it should not be long before women in construction are leading the league. 

About the Authors 

Together, Stacey Holsinger, Marketing Manager; Jennifer Hottle, Tool & Receiving Manager; Mary Beth Kingsley, and Senior Project Manager; Sandy Palmerton, have shattered the glass ceiling at Shapiro & Duncan, Inc., the “Provider of Choice” in the Washington, D.C. area for complex commercial, government and institutional design-build projects that require first-rate performance, work quality and customer service.