COURSE OVERVIEW:

Welcome to the Team Leadership in Brick & Blocklaying Worksites course. This program is designed to develop the leadership capabilities of individuals working in masonry construction roles who are responsible for guiding teams on-site. Whether you're currently leading a crew or preparing to step into a leadership position, this course provides practical skills and strategies to build a cohesive, productive, and safety-conscious team.

The course begins by defining the unique role of a team leader in bricklaying environments and explores the key differences between leadership and simple supervision. You’ll examine the essential qualities of an effective leader and how leadership influences site culture, quality of work, and team morale.

Brick and blocklaying worksites involve a mix of roles, from skilled bricklayers to apprentices, labourers, and subcontractors. This section outlines how to understand each team member’s responsibilities, establish clear reporting lines, and delegate tasks appropriately according to experience and capability.

Trust and respect are the foundations of a strong team. This section demonstrates how to lead by example in both conduct and communication, promote fairness and consistency, and manage negative behaviours quickly and professionally to maintain a positive worksite environment.

Clear and confident communication is essential to productivity and safety. This section focuses on how to give precise, easy-to-understand instructions, use appropriate tone and language, and tailor your communication style to suit different team members, including those still developing trade skills.

Managing daily site activities requires proactive coordination. This section covers setting daily objectives, sequencing tasks in line with project timelines, and adapting to delays, weather, or site-specific conditions that may affect planned progress.

Quality assurance is not just a supervisor’s role—team leaders are equally responsible for monitoring the standard of workmanship. This section explains how to check compliance with plans and specifications, identify issues early, and provide feedback that supports improvement without discouraging the team.

Motivation and morale significantly affect output. This section helps you build confidence and cohesion within your crew by recognising achievements, supporting your team through setbacks, and fostering a culture of mutual encouragement and pride in workmanship.

Where people work together, disagreements may arise. This section guides you in identifying early signs of conflict, applying calm and impartial conflict resolution techniques, and knowing when to escalate issues beyond your level of authority.

Managing time effectively keeps the project moving. This section provides practical tools to minimise downtime, allocate tasks strategically, and use schedules and checklists to help your team remain on track and accountable for outcomes.

A safety-focused team starts with strong leadership. This section explores how to model safe behaviours, conduct daily pre-starts, enforce PPE compliance, and respond immediately to unsafe acts or near misses with corrective action and education.

Supporting apprentices and new entrants is a key leadership responsibility. This section focuses on assigning meaningful learning tasks, giving real-time guidance and corrections, and ensuring apprentices have opportunities to gain confidence and competence under your supervision.

Delegation is more than task assignment—it’s about empowerment. This section outlines how to match team members to suitable tasks, delegate with clarity, and avoid micromanagement while maintaining necessary oversight to ensure accountability and results.

When issues arise on-site, leaders must think on their feet. This section covers structured decision-making, collaborative problem solving, and taking ownership of both the solution and its implementation across your team.

Resource management is part of leading the work. This section explores how to ensure the availability of tools and materials, avoid waste, report defects or shortages efficiently, and support your team by resolving logistic issues before they affect productivity.

Leaders also serve as a key communication link between the team and senior site personnel. This section outlines how to give timely progress updates, report incidents or issues professionally, and carry out instructions from site supervisors or builders accurately and effectively.

Giving performance feedback helps workers grow. This section shows how to hold informal progress discussions, identify strengths and weaknesses constructively, and set goals that encourage personal development and improve team capability over time.

No one leadership style suits every team or situation. This section introduces flexible leadership styles—directive, coaching, and delegative—and teaches you how to choose the right approach based on team experience, personalities, and current site dynamics.

Strong teams work together, not in silos. This section helps you promote collaboration, encourage cooperation on shared tasks, and celebrate team achievements as a way to boost morale and build unity.

Leadership also involves recognising and managing pressure. This section helps you identify signs of stress within yourself and your team, apply simple de-escalation strategies, and build a site environment where people feel safe, supported, and respected.

Finally, leadership is a skill you can grow over time. This concluding section encourages you to seek feedback, participate in formal training, reflect on your progress, and plan your own development pathway towards senior roles such as foreperson or site supervisor.

By the end of this course, you will be equipped with the practical knowledge and leadership techniques needed to confidently lead a team on a bricklaying or blocklaying site—promoting safety, productivity, and a high standard of workmanship.

Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:

1. Introduction to Leadership in Bricklaying Worksites

• The role of a team leader in masonry construction
• Differences between leadership and supervision
• Key qualities of an effective on-site leader

2. Understanding Team Roles and Responsibilities

• Bricklayers, labourers, apprentices, and subcontractors
• Scope of tasks and reporting lines
• Delegating work according to skill levels

3. Building Trust and Respect Among Team Members

• Leading by example in conduct and communication
• Promoting fairness and mutual respect
• Addressing negative behaviours early

4. Communicating Effectively On-Site

• Giving clear, concise instructions
• Using appropriate language and tone
• Adapting communication styles for different team members

5. Coordinating Daily Work Activities

• Setting daily goals and timelines
• Managing sequencing and work stages
• Adjusting plans based on site conditions

6. Monitoring Work Quality and Progress

• Checking for alignment with drawings and specifications
• Identifying and correcting errors early
• Providing constructive feedback and support

7. Motivating and Supporting Team Members

• Recognising good work and effort
• Setting achievable goals to build morale
• Providing encouragement during setbacks

8. Conflict Resolution on Bricklaying Sites

• Recognising sources of tension or disagreement
• Applying calm, unbiased problem-solving strategies
• Escalating issues to site managers if necessary

9. Time Management and Productivity

• Planning breaks and tasks to avoid downtime
• Setting realistic expectations for output
• Using checklists and schedules to stay on track

10. Promoting Safety Culture in the Team

• Reinforcing PPE and safe work procedures
• Leading daily pre-starts and safety briefings
• Responding immediately to unsafe behaviour

11. Mentoring Apprentices and New Workers

• Assigning suitable learning tasks
• Providing on-the-job guidance and corrections
• Monitoring skill development and progress

12. Delegating Tasks Effectively

• Matching tasks with experience and capability
• Empowering team members with responsibility
• Avoiding micromanagement while ensuring oversight

13. Problem Solving and Decision Making

• Assessing issues quickly on-site
• Involving others in solution planning
• Taking responsibility for decisions and outcomes

14. Managing Resources and Materials

• Ensuring tools and materials are available
• Avoiding wastage through better control
• Reporting shortages or defects promptly

15. Liaising with Supervisors and Site Managers

• Providing regular updates on progress
• Reporting incidents, delays, or variations
• Receiving and implementing site instructions

16. Conducting Performance Reviews and Feedback

• Informal check-ins and progress discussions
• Identifying strengths and improvement areas
• Setting goals for individual growth

17. Adapting Leadership Style to Team Needs

• Using directive, coaching, or delegative approaches
• Recognising team maturity and individual personalities
• Adjusting style based on site conditions

18. Promoting Teamwork and Collaboration

• Encouraging cooperation and shared tasks
• Minimising competition and siloed work
• Celebrating team achievements

19. Managing Stress and Site Pressures

• Recognising personal and team stress signs
• Applying strategies to maintain calm under pressure
• Creating a positive and supportive work environment

20. Developing Leadership Skills for Career Progression

• Seeking feedback and self-assessment
• Participating in leadership and WHS training
• Planning steps toward supervisory or foreperson roles

COURSE DURATION:

The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.

COURSE DELIVERY:

Purchase and download course content.

ASSESSMENT:

A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.

CERTIFICATION:

Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.