There's No 'I' in Project Team

 

A new project is starting and the team is scheduled to meet at the project kickoff session. Clients, the executive sponsor, the project manager, administrative managers and the project team all gather to hear how important this new project is to the future success of the enterprise. The sponsor stresses the goals of reducing operations expenses and improving customer service while enhancing stockholder equity.

You sit back in your chair and contemplate if politics will be played within the team as the project manager is stressing the importance of on-time delivery and meeting or decreasing expenses against the project budget.

Potential Team Behaviors

Some projects are very successful as the team synergy flows and everyone chips in to help each other out in times of need. However, many times team efforts result in overzealous competition, resentment and far too much wasted time and effort by the team members having to confront that behavior.

We have all experienced member behavior on ineffective teams. They have their own agendas, are quick to judge others and often aren't listening to other peoples' ideas.

Because these team members don't know or want to get along, they prevent other members from sharing their ideas. More importantly, they keep the rest of the team from reaching that all-important consensus. Behaviors range…

Please log in or sign up below to read the rest of the article.