By Erin Palmer
Effective leaders know that building a strong team is the key to project success. Creating the best possible team requires smart hiring, proper delegation and clear communication. Here are some tips for putting together a successful team:
- Hire the right people. Make sure that the team is comprised of people with strong qualifications. Look for people with relevant work experience, positive references or PMP certification. Match the expertise of new hires with the current team. Having a well-rounded staff will be beneficial, and can allow the team to learn new things from one another.
- Put the right people on the right tasks. Form teams where everyone has a clearly defined role, as well as an understanding about how those roles fit together. Delegate assignments based on the skill sets of the team members. Having a clearly defined direction will make the project run more smoothly and foster positive outcomes.
- Create trust within the team. The team leader has to create a trusting work environment. The leader needs to be honest about deadlines, problems and qualifications. Keeping the team in the dark about vital information can create mistrust and slow down the progress of a project. Likewise, team members need to be assured that their leader practices confidential communication. The team might have to come to the leader with sensitive issues, so it is important for them to know that the leader will be discreet.
- Keep the balance between work and play. Being professional is necessary while working, but that doesn’t mean that the team should not have fun. People who enjoy one another’s company will often work well together. The leader should foster and environment where everyone respects each other and knows how to balance enjoyment and accomplishment. Spending time together outside of work might increase camaraderie, but it is important to keep mirth at appropriate levels during work hours.
- Be sure that everyone communicates well. Being professional is necessary while working, but that doesn’t mean that the team should not have fun. People who enjoy one another’s company will often work well together. The leader should foster and environment where everyone respects each other and knows how to balance enjoyment and accomplishment. Spending time together outside of work might increase camaraderie, but it is important to keep mirth at appropriate levels during work hours.
The stronger that a team is, the more successful their projects will be. Building a team that is based on trust and shared goals will help make projects easier to manage. A happy and hard-working team will lead to satisfied clients.
University Alliance provided this article on behalf of Villanova University’s online programs. Villanova offers PMP certification courses that help you prepare for the PMP exam. They also host project management articles such as Top 10 Project Management Challenges. For more information please visit http://www.villanovau.com.
© 2011, gilbertojunqueira.com. All rights reserved.
Related posts:
