Are your business analysts having a hard time identifying the customer on your two year old project? Do customers feel like they are outside of the project team? Does your project team think that communications is a four letter word? If the answer to any of these questions is YES then you may have a major team building and communication issue on your project. To help you get over the hurdle here are three simple and quick activities that will get you on the right track fast.
Problem: The terminology monster
Example: I don’t understand why we have to follow these processes; what do you mean by leveled resources and allocation? Why do you need to know what tasks are “done” every week? Define done.
Solution: Project teams have enough hurdles without having to deal with random babel that they don’t understand. You can jump over this one like a world class Olympian by ensuring that everyone on your team (Yes! Even the Sponsors and Stakeholders) use the same terminology. What? You can’t take 40 hours from the schedule to train them in the Project Management Methodology and any other development methodologies (ie Agile, RUP, Waterfall & Hybrid). No worries. Create a series of Lunch-n-Learns that meet two days per week (never on Mondays or Fridays). Make the series optional but invite the entire team. Besides saving money and time, your team members will get valuable training and you will know which team members are motivated towards project success. If you really want to kick it up a notch, ask interested team members to teach a few of the classes. They will be seen as an expert and could generate additional interest by other team members looking to get some of the teaching spotlight and expert notoriety.
Problem: Communications killer
Example: I know they ask if there are any issues, but I am not going to say anything. My boss gets made when I speak up. These meetings are a waste of time because no one ever speaks up.
Solution: Most teams consist of several team members from different disciplines including Business Analysts, Customers, Sponsor, Development, Quality Assurance, Management, etc. Create Communications Groups that consists of members from different disciplines excluding Management members. Management members should be on a team of their own. So, if you had a team of 3 BAs, 3 Customers, 3 Developers, 3 QA, 1 Sponsor, 1 PM, 1 Manager put the Sponsor, PM, and Manager on a team. Create 4 teams with the remaining resources ensuring that the mix up the disciplines. Assign each team the following questions in which all people will on the team will respond confidentially:
Name at least one major accomplishment from the past two weeks.
What are 3 things that you really liked over the past 2 weeks?
What hurdles are you experiencing? What would you like to see added, edited, or removed?
What else would you like to share? What questions do you have?
A single person will act as the team spokesperson and NEVER states the name of the source of the information. The moderator NEVER gets defensive. The goal is the listen to the team, understand what the needs are, and to be responsive to those needs. Make it really fun by turning it into a bi-weekly breakfast and add in an icebreaker game. Sit back and enjoy your team’s new-found cohesiveness.
Problem: Abandoned stakeholders and Forsaken customers
Example: They never include us in anything they do. They always make changes without telling us. It is like we are not a part of the team.
SEE ALSO:
10 Sure Ways to Run a Productive Meeting
How to Build a Successful Team
Stakeholders and customers can be demanding making them easy to accidentally lose their invitation in the email. The issue is that the customer and stakeholder are a part of the team and should be treated as such. After setting clear ground-rules regarding communications ensure that you include the stakeholders and customers in as much extracurricular activities as possible. Remember, if it was not for the customer you would not be building this product. During activities, make sure that you remind the customers and stakeholders that the goal is team building.
These three simple steps will get you well on your way to creating a cohesive team environment. No, it is not a magic bullet but it will get you a lot closer to where you want your team to be.
Article written and contributed by Dawnna St. Louis. Dawnna is a Professional Speaker & Speaking Coach and Project Management Trainer. Check out her website: www.DawnnaSpeaks.com
From: http://ping.fm/4tE7C
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