Whether it’s a complex bridge, a custom play structure or even just a simple boardwalk, great outcomes are almost always the result of great collaborations. When information and questions are exchanged freely, things are usually a lot easier to navigate for all parties involved.

There are always plenty of variables that can stall or slow a project. But 2022 really seems to have taken things up a notch or two in the difficulty stakes. Maybe it’s an inflation-squeezed budget. Tricky design challenges. Supplier chain issues. The sheer scale of the task at hand, or perhaps the pressure of demanding stakeholders and a super-tight programme.

Faced with uncertainty, sometimes the safest option can feel like doing nothing at all, or lowering everyone’s expectations to avoid disappointment. I know, back in my client days, that’s how I often felt. But I also remember feeling it was such a shame to compromise like that, especially given most outdoor structures will remain in the community for decades and generations to come. Surely, there’s a better way?

How do questions unlock opportunities?

Working as a landscape architect for many years and now Design Lead here at Fleetwood, I’ve been involved with the delivery of outdoor structures and spaces for a long time (my grey hair is testament to that!). In my experience, when faced with potential obstacles there are almost always options, enhancements, and workarounds – and asking questions is frequently the best way to find them. That’s why we tend to ask a lot of questions here at Fleetwood and, even more importantly, why we actively encourage our clients and project partners to do the same.

Whether it’s a complex bridge in a sensitive location, a fully-custom play structure or even just a simple FRP boardwalk, great outcomes are almost always the result of great collaborations. When information and questions are exchanged freely, things are usually a lot easier to navigate for all parties involved.

What is most valuable to you?

One of the biggest things for me is knowing what matters most to my clients, right from the start. By that I mean, what’s truly valuable to them? It’s also super important to know if there’s something weighing on their mind – or other project stakeholders – as the project journey progresses. Whether we’re still in the pre-contract stages or the final on-site install, asking questions unlocks these conversations. By getting right down to the nuts and bolts, I find that’s often what makes the project a success.

When is the best time to ask?

Is there a project detail nagging away in the back of your mind? My advice is to flag it as soon as you can. Certainly, don’t agonise over it alone! Whether it’s a big thing, or something small, it’s never too early to have a conversation. Likewise, if there’s ever something you’re not 100% happy with on a project, perhaps you feel things are moving too fast, or you’re being kept out of the loop, please reach out and say, ‘hey, I’m not feeling comfortable about this’. No dramas at all. That’s why we’re here.

The other great thing about asking questions, is it allows us to involve the very best people to get the answers or perhaps reassurance you need to keep your project on track. There’s a fantastic quote that says: ‘None of us is smarter than all of us.’ This is so true at Fleetwood. From design and engineering to manufacturing, installation and even procurement, we have a lot of really smart people in the business, all part of the one team. They’re experts at what they do and knowing the right time to bring them into the discussion can be so beneficial. Asking questions makes that happen.

Why keep questions to yourself?

No one wants to be a burden. But sometimes we find clients (especially less experienced ones) are a little reluctant to share their questions and concerns, almost as if they don’t want to waste our time. On the contrary, I’d say the more questions the better! Please share your feedback, concerns and ideas – make your problems our problems, so we can explore and answer them together in a way that works best for you. Again, that’s precisely why we’re here.

Just finally, something else I’ve learned over the years is to resist the temptation to solve problems on the spot. Why? Because I find people tend to naturally default back to what they’ve always done, which may not be the best way forward. Instead, I always try to take a breath, really listen to what’s being asked and create a comfortable space for a candid conversation. Time and again, that’s when we find out what’s really going on with projects.



Asking questions has always been one of the secrets to a great project outcome. It helps to slice through doubt, clear up misunderstandings and avoid surprises – and sets your project on the path to delivering maximum value for you and your community. So please, fire away!

Too many questions? There’s no such thing.

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