Supervisory Training Programs

Click here for a current schedule of STP courses being taught in New York.

Over the years the AGC of America has developed and continually refines the most successful Supervisory Training Programs (STP) in the United States. Over 100,000 individuals have taken advantage of this ten-unit course. It was developed by contractors for contractors. GBC is offering this program on a continuous basis, sometimes in conjunction with other associations. Each course is 15 hours, organized in five sessions.

Other than the value of taking the courses, participants completing the ten-unit program receive a certification of completion by the AGC of America. There is no obligation to complete all ten units. Contractors may choose the unit that fits the specific needs of an employee.

                                                                                                             Photo:  STP National Certificate holders, 2005.

The units include

• Leadership styles
• Analyzing individual needs and behaviors
• Positive influences on work attitudes and abilities
• The leader as goal setter, communicator and coach
• The leader gets commitment
• The leader in control

• Forms of communication
• Problems from poor communication
• Effective listening
• Components of conversation
• Communicating with your crew
• Good writing skills and habits
• Facilitating the meeting process
• The Internet and World Wide Web

Unit 3:  Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Problem prevention and anticipation
• Identifying problems
• How to solve scheduling and technical problems
• Strategies for solving human performance problems
• Creative problem solving
• Barriers to developing creative solutions
• Establishing a problem solving atmosphere
• Developing follow-up systems
• Changing your mind

• Introduction to contract documents and construction law
• Creating a positive environment
• Contractual relationships
• Contract forms and documents
• Managing general conditions
• Good documentation practices
• Changes
• Differing site conditions
• Time impacts
• Negotiation of resolutions

• Preparing the project plan
• Developing and using bar charts
• The critical path
• Computer scheduling
• Using the schedule on the jobsite
• Updating the construction schedule
• The schedule as documentation
• Analyzing a change

• Introduction to understanding and managing project costs
• Construction estimates
• Who controls project costs
• Reporting and analyzing actual costs
• Planning for cost control
• Labor cost control
• Controlling subcontractors
• Loss prevention
• Cost control strategies
• Post-project evaluation

• The high price of accidents
• Safety communication and motivation
• Documentation and inventories
• Using reference material and advisory sources
• Project security and traffic control
• Using the project schedule to prevent losses
• Selecting methods and equipment to prevent losses
• Assignment of responsibility and equipment maintenance
• Common construction hazards
• Government regulations and inspections

• Pre-construction planning
• Planning, organizing and staffing
• Developing the project plan
• Planning for production support
• Cost and risk control
• Policies and procedures
• Subcontractor management
• Project layout
• Project start-up and closeout

• Benchmarking construction productivity
• Improving productivity through pre-planning
• MORE: Four new skills for effective supervision
• Personnel management
• Equipment management
• Jobsite productivity, planning and scheduling
• Managing subcontractors
• Quantifying lost productivity
• Record keeping

Unit 10:  General and Specialty Contractor Dynamics 

• Construction systems 
• Contractual relationships 
• Value and impact of specialty contractors 
• Selecting a specialty contractor 
• Importance of open communication 
• Prints and specifications 
• Time management 
• Productivity and goals 
• Project closeout