Managing the Team: Best Practices

Transcript

inev Le situations arrive arise where there may be conflict among your team members and that may impact the productivity of the team so um I was asking people for some examples and and how to deal with that situation so I'll start off with that first I mean I think that uh we all know we heard it while we were at the GSB that um you know diversity ... Read More

Summary

In this video, the speakers discuss various situations that can occur within a team project and provide insights on how to handle them. They address issues such as conflict among team members, project slumps, and team members dropping off the project.

Questions & Answers

Q: How can team members deal with conflicts within the team?

Conflict among team members is inevitable, especially given diverse opinions or conflicting styles. To address this, it is important for everyone on the team to take responsibility for taking care of each other. One should be mindful of quieter team members and create an inclusive environment where everyone's opinions are heard and valued. It is also crucial to pay attention during team meetings and address any conflicts one-on-one if needed.

Q: How can teams overcome project slumps?

Project slumps can occur during the middle of a project, causing a loss of momentum. To avoid this, it is crucial to clearly identify project goals and timelines early on. Shorter timelines are recommended to keep team members focused and motivated. Clearly defining deliverables for each team member can help ensure accountability. Overlapping skill sets within the team also provide the ability to pick up slack if someone is unable to meet deadlines. Additionally, maintaining regular contact and utilizing backup tasks during lulls in the project can help keep the team engaged and productive.

Q: Can you provide an example of a team member dropping off the project and how it was handled?

In one project, a team member was hired as the CEO of the client organization in the middle of the project. To address this unexpected situation, the team stopped communicating with the team member to avoid controversies. Fortunately, another team member had overlapping skills and took over the tasks. In general, having backup team members and a slightly larger team size can help to take on additional work when someone drops off. Communication with the team leader is key to reassigning tasks and ensuring the project progresses smoothly.

Q: What can a team do to make the project leader's life easier?

Team members should come to all the meetings and make an extraordinary effort, showing commitment to the project. Timely completion of assigned tasks is crucial, as well as actively contributing ideas and opinions during the meetings. Being prepared and having read the necessary material for discussions also helps optimize meeting time. Additionally, rotating responsibilities within the team, such as note-taking or setting up meetings, can ensure that one person does not bear all the routine work. Clear communication about availability and any changes to assigned tasks is also important.

Q: How can team members address situations where they are unable to fulfill their assigned tasks?

Clear communication is essential when team members are unable to complete their assigned tasks. If a team member cannot fulfill their commitment, they should inform the team leader as soon as possible. This allows the project leader to reassign tasks and manage the workload accordingly. Building in redundancy and slack within the project plan can also help accommodate unforeseen circumstances and ensure the project stays on track.