How to Assess Your Team Culture—and Make It Better

Bruce is the founder of ProjectManagementHacks.com, a resource for growing IT project managers.

  Leadership   Teams  

Project managers rely on their team members to deliver project results. If engagement, trust and collaboration are low, the risk of missing deadlines and other problems will grow. With all the enthusiasm about AI and new technology, we mustn’t lose sight of people.

This health check is inspired by the four recommendations for creating a positive team culture outlined in PMI’s report “Building and Leading High-Performance Teams.” The report is filled with great examples (e.g., during onboarding at IT firm Cognizant, team members are encouraged to share feedback on training materials as a way to promote from the start the company’s culture of inclusivity and constant improvement).

I saw an opportunity to add a health check to team culture. Until you assess the quality of your team’s culture, it is tough to know what exactly you should do to improve.

Why Does Assessing Your Team Culture Matter?
There are several reasons to pay attention to team culture:

1. Consider your reputation as a leader. If you become known for a positive team, finding people to work with today and in the future will be easier.
2. We spend a significant percentage of our waking hours at work, so making that experience as pleasant as possible is wise.
3. A positive team culture makes it easier to retain your talent.

Assessing Your Team Culture: Team Leader …

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