Soft Skills Required for Quantity Surveyor

The importance of a Quantity Surveyor's role in any construction project cannot be underrated. Quantity Surveyor's extensive range of responsibilities include

• Cost planning & managing finances
• Preparing contract documents & bills
• Identifying and resolving commercial risks
• Aassigning work to the sub-contractors
• Advising on contractual issues and property taxation
• Ensuring project on time and arranging payments
• Resolving disputes
• Preparing financier reports and insurance estimates

All these duties of a Quantity Surveyor are integral to the success of a project. The emergence of the profile of Quantity Surveyor can be dated back to the 19th century. This is when the government decided to invest more attention to the processes and finances involved in the construction projects. Though earlier the numbers of Quantity Surveyors were low today, it is one of the crucial professions.

We already have discussed the significance of a Quantity Surveyors in any contractual project. They ensure that the project is completed on time and in a cost-effective manner. Without them, the finances can go out of control and the project can fail. Thus, they play a very important role.
If you wish to become a Quantity Surveyor, then you must hold the required qualifications. However, mere qualifications are not enough to become professionally sound in this field. You also must possess some competencies and soft skills to ensure success. Here are those skills which determine your progress in the domain of Quantity Surveying.
 

Communication & Negotiation Skills
 

Undoubtedly, communication is the most important aspect of the job of Quantity Surveyors. In this field, you will need to communicate with the various parties involved in the project from clients, stakeholders to sub-contractors. You must have excellent communication skills. This skill will help in the better negotiation which may lead to the cost reduction which is the primary responsibility of a Quantity Surveyors. Quantity Surveyors with good communication and negotiation skills will know how to put across their points effectively and convince people to agree upon their ideas. Also, they will be able to provide with the solution that suits the needs of every party involved in the project.
 

Decision-making Skills
 

This is again a very crucial skill which you cannot overlook as it has a great impact on the entire project. There are several stages in a project where a quantity surveyor will need to take important decisions for the benefit of the project. These are the times when your decision-making skills come in hands. If you are proficient in the decision-making skills, you will be able to take the right decision at the right time. You must take the decision after evaluating all its pros and cons. Your decisions must induce a positive impact on the project for its success.
 

Leadership Skills
 

If you have Leadership skills, you will be able to lead the entire project efficiently.  By the virtue of this skill, you can direct the workers to complete the project on time. Also, with this skill, you can effectively manage and resolve any dispute that may occur in the project. So, having this skill on your side guarantees you to victory.
 

So, these are the crucial soft skills that you must have if you want to become a good Quantity Surveyor.