Many project management companies are working on how to build a team that is both efficient and effective in meeting their project’s needs. However, looking ahead, those same companies might be better served by considering certain mistakes to avoid when building a team. The following are just some of the mistakes to avoid when you are building an effective project management team:
1) Poor leadership
Not having the right person in charge of leading the team. While leadership for a project management team can often be messy and can lead to many ineffective decisions, it is important to have a clear leader and set of sponsors within the organization. An indicator of a potential leader is someone with relevant qualifications, such as an agile certified practitioner.
2) Poorly defined roles
Not having a clearly defined role and purpose for the team. A good project management team will require all members of the team to understand their roles, roles that are clearly defined at the very beginning of their time together.
3) Lots of meetings
Having too many meetings. While it is important to have weekly project management meetings, having too many will result in time wasted and can lead to burnout for team members. If your team is meeting more than once a week, and the conversation during these meetings isn’t productive, try reducing the number of times that you meet and focusing on what needs to be done during those meetings.
4) Trying to figure it out as you go
Trying to figure it out as you go along. The most successful project management teams are those who have a plan from the very beginning of their project’s life cycle. With that being said, they are also teams that are open to change. It is important to know when to stick with the plan and when to be willing to improvise.
5) No clear starting point
Not knowing where you started from or where you want to go. While this may seem like a basic concept, many project management teams will make the mistake of not having these things figured out before moving forward with their projects. It is important for team members, as well as for stakeholders, to clearly understand these two items. If there is any confusion about either of these points, have a conversation about what it means and why it matters before proceeding.
6) Poor recruitment
Choosing the wrong people for the job. As with any new endeavor, you will want to approach the project management team building by pre-qualifying potential team members. For example, do they have experience in planning and executing projects? Do they speak in a project’s language? Do they have a positive attitude?
If you are unsure of how to properly assess potential team members, it may be wise to hire a consultant who knows how to build effective teams.
There are mistakes that many project managers make every day, and it is important to be aware of them and try to avoid them when planning a project management team. If you choose not to do so, it might be a good idea for your company or organization to hire a consultant who can help you avoid those pitfalls.
