The experience of a project team working at high performance is very hard to forget. If you’ve ever been part of such a team, you’re sure to have fond memories of the experience.
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In this type of team, a strong bond of trust is usually established. People work together cooperatively to achieve common goals, and often the project is even more successful than the project manager, and the client could have imagined.
Team member experience is undoubtedly a dominant characteristic, but it is not the only one. These types of teams generally have some key elements in common that make them effective, high-performing teams.
Among these features, we can find:
- Clearly defined objectives
- Clearly defined roles
- Open and clear communication
- Effective decision making
- Balanced participation
- Diversity acceptance
- Conflict management
- Positive work atmosphere
- Cooperative relationships
- Participatory leadership
But how to create an effective team?
The most important requirement for a successful project is choosing the team that will take on the work.
The set of skills brought by each individual on the team should add extra value to the team as a whole.
There are usually two things that need to be evaluated before selecting an individual to be part of a project team: first, what skills are needed to fill the position on the project team? And second, what skills and experience can this new member offer?
Each project has its requirements, and roles are chosen accordingly based on individuals’ experience, skills, knowledge, etc.
This is one of the most critical steps in project management: grouping efficient and effective professionals.
The steps needed to choose the right mix of individuals to create an excellent team are:
- Identify the goals to be achieved: Knowing the goals allows you to understand the parameters of the activities to be done, which in turn decide the type of skills and abilities required to successfully complete the project.
- Select team members: From a pool of people with different skills and experience, you must select those who have the specific skills required for the project. To build an effective team, focus not only on the skills that an individual team member must possess but also on the entire team’s skill pool.
- Optimize team performance: it’s not enough to build a team and delegate tasks to individuals. To get results, you need to calibrate performance and remind them that they need to work as one team to achieve the set goal.
The perfect team member
Available human resources affect project deliverability, i.e., the more knowledgeable and experienced members are, the more likely they are to successfully complete a project.
So, what should project managers look for when they want to find the perfect team members?
Here are some features:
- Team members should be disciplined and organized; this brings efficiency to the team.
- They should be great communicators who will listen and address concerns effectively.
- They should be objectively talented in their field.
- They should be resourceful.
- They should be proactive, meaning they should be able to take action on their own.
- And finally, they should have a total and pure commitment to the project and their role on the team.
What makes the team successful?
Once you’ve seen how to find the perfect members for an effective project team, however, there’s still one small piece that’s missing: the project manager.
The project manager is an integral part of the project team, so you need an extraordinary project manager to manage a group of skilled people who are committed to a single goal.
However, bringing together a manager who knows his stuff and a well-built project team doesn’t always result in a successful job; in fact, certain characteristics measure a team’s success:
- Team roles and goals should be clearly defined
- Participation by all members should be balanced and well-defined
- Communication among members should be clear and open
- Relationships among team members should be fully collaborative
- Diversity must be accepted
- The project manager should be fully involved in managing the task and its outcomes.
- Conflicts and stress should be resolved quickly.
- The overall atmosphere of the project team should be positive. A positive atmosphere leads to efficient working conditions, which in turn increases productivity.
- Finally, the use of technology will help implement all of the above features with unparalleled convenience. A good project management software tool that packs several features will allow you to stay on top of project tasks and manage your project team with precision.
In general, the organization of work within a project team requires special attention and effort.
Distributing roles and assigning responsibilities is the first step toward project goals.
Building a highly productive project team can seem challenging.
How to identify who the right person for the team is? How to distribute roles and make sure everyone understands their part? What if a group of great experts turns out to be completely dysfunctional?
While some of the knowledge that answers these questions is relatively intuitive, there are rules to follow that help create an effective project team.
Project management is one area where customized solutions can lead to success and a positive project team experience.
