Getting Projects Completed Successfully

Often times leaders give up on trying to make the team-concept work at their organizations. What they end up doing instead is to take on the projects themselves and leave the opportunity for a team-based solution in the dust.

When a leader takes this approach, they are stealing huge benefits from their teams. By stepping in and not allowing the natural progression of team growth to occur, they short-circuit the process needed for teams to do greater things. They want the best, so they step in like eager parents but end up robbing “the kids” of valuable lessons; lessons that mostly include failure.

These leaders are hoping to create efficiencies, but they end up creating dependencies.

Wrench in the Gears

I have heard the following organizational story many times.  Sadly, it’s been true too many times with some of the organizations where I have worked or have led.

Familiar Story

Tell me if this story sounds familiar. It is a story of four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it.

Everybody was sure Somebody would do it.

Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody’s job.

Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn’t do it.

It ended that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

~From a poem by Charles Osgood

Questions for You

• Has this “disorganization” ever been the case in your organization?
• Do you have a great team that can brainstorm ideas that sound great when you talk about them, but no progress is ever made completing them?
• How can we be sure that projects get completed working in a team environment?

A Team-Based Approach

In my organization, as our staff size has increased in size and complexity, I have observed some things that are necessary in order to make a project successful.

Once the team reaches consensus on the project:

Define clearly what the project is and what will make it successful

This is a huge principle I am still learning, but a win is not defined equally.  Make sure people understand what is expected of them.

Make sure everyone understands who is responsible for each task

You can have the best people in the world, but the project will fall through the cracks if no one takes responsibility.

Provide accountability and feedback and monitor progress

It is important, for some people more than others, that you ask questions along the way to make sure progress is being made. Some people will get stuck and not ask for help and the project stalls.  Check in with the team or person periodically.

Evaluate during and after the project and reassigned responsibilities as necessary

Sometimes a specific task is bigger than expected. Sometimes the assignment was not a good fit.  Sometimes people drop the ball.  If completing the project is important, don’t be afraid to shake up the team.

Learn from each project

The more projects your team does together, the better they will get at completing them if you keep learning and implementing the needed changes for the next project.

So are you guilty of circumventing your team’s natural growth-curve by intervening when you shouldn’t? Do you handle projects well and include your team’s best resources to get the job done?  What tips do you have to make sure a project is completed successfully? I would love to hear your thoughts!

——————–
Ron Edmondson is Co-Pastor at Grace Community Church
He specializes in Communication, Strategy, Org Behavior, Mgmt and Marketing
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Image Sources: polarweasel.org

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