Five steps to lead a successful project team

image credit: flickr marmet544

Whether you are a seasoned Project Manager or some one who have recent been promoted to Project Manager job, this article will be helpful in either way as information something new or a fresh reminder of what you already have been doing.

Teams always look at their Project Manager to lead them, guide them, provide the necessary tools, templates, guidelines, scope and all necessary parameters of the project, let’s analyze these five steps that would surely help lead to a successful team.

1: Purpose, Goal, Outcome:

Project Manager has to gather the team and clarify the purpose of the project, why is the project being performed, what are the goals that need to be achieved and how to achieve them. What is the end result or outcome or the project, whether its a service or product to be delivered and how will the end result look like.

It makes sense, if teams knows the purpose of the project and goals that are set for them and how to achieve those goals, they will better perform and tries to achieve the goals set for them.

These are some of the questions that a Project Manager need to clarify upfront in order to make a successful project team.

2: Scope, Responsibility, limits:

Again, the Project Manager has to clarify the scope of the project to the team, not only the things that are included in the project but things that are not included in the project, so that they have a better idea and understanding of goals that they need to focus on and skip those things that are not in their domain, they will have a clear understanding of their limitations and boundaries and their focus will be on their specific tasks only.

3: Be Project Manager not Boss:

We know what a Project Manager is and how great Project Manager’s drive their teams, right. I won’t go into details about the characteristics of great project manager’s but will mention some:

• Project Manager is a leader and is their to help lead the team and make decisions based on teams feedback.
• Show the team that you are the biggest supporter of the team and the project, and is always their to help remove any obstacles that teams and project faces.
• Facilitate the team by providing all necessary documentation, templates, any additional resources that could help achieve their targets effectively and efficiently.
• Help team advance their knowledge and understanding by giving them equal opportunities and related trainings to not only achieve success in project but for their future endeavors.

4: Get Team involved:

You, as a Project Manager should not show that you have the last words. Get input from your team, discuss with them, let them share their ideas, thoughts, suggestions, be open to them and above all talk less and listen more. This will create a sense in team that they have been listened.

5: Trust and Believe in your Team:

If you, as a Project Manager created an environment in your project, where your team has a firm believe that you are some one who believe in team concept both from your words and actions then you have already set the foundation of a successful team.

Conclusion:

Project Manager should create a friendly environment on a project where team are listened more, they have set targets and goals, they have a clear path and they know their limitations, they know project manager is always there to help them achieve and grow.
If you, as a Project Manager able to implement those points discussed above, then, you and your team are on your way to success.

Would love to see some feedback over the topic.