Top-Performing Project Managers in Electrical Contractors: A National Assessment of Personality and Aptitude Characteristics

The construction industry has used personality assessments as a tool in personnel hiring, promotion, and talent development processes. However, many companies enter uncharted waters with how to best utilize these assessments. The purpose of this study is to identify the traits, characteristics, and skillsets of top-performing electrical contractors by using several personality and aptitude assessments. A questionnaire survey was developed consisting of several commercially available personality and aptitude assessments, including HEXACO personality inventory, DISC behavioral assessment, and emotional intelligence diagnostics. The questionnaire was distributed to electrical contractors across the United States via the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA). Participating contractors were asked to nominate their top-performing project managers to take the assessment. Supervisors of the project managers completed a standardized performance review to provide quantitative and qualitative performance data. Results include a summary of the attributes and characteristics of top-performing project managers along with a discussion of how the electrical contracting sector compares to the construction industry in general. This study contributes the beginnings of a national benchmark of electrical contractor project manager attributes, which may be further developed into easy-to-use tools which allow companies to identify the right candidates for project management positions and grow the existing talent within their companies.