Perhaps, you have been appointed to take up a project and form a team. Clearly, you would need to choose the right people for a successful project. That is where knowing how to set up a team comes in.
What Is a Project Team?
A project team is a group of people who work together towards achieving a common goal. Usually, it can include project managers, executives, and team members.
How to set up a project team
Fundamentally, before you start picking team members, you have to establish an organizational structure. This way, your team members can rely on established rules and procedures, defined expectations, and established communication channels.
That said, the steps to create or set up a project team include the following:
Identify departmental needs
First, analyze your project team structure based on the departments needed for the project. Then, assign departmental team leaders.
Establish communication channels
Second, you should set parameters for communications and meetings between and within departments. As such, you can ensure fluid communication in the overall team.
Establish expectations and deliverables and SOPs
Third, you have to clearly define expectations. In other words, from the start, you have to set ground rules with clear boundaries. Likewise, you should formulate the project’s Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs). For example, each team member should know what to do if things go wrong. ,
Choosing Your Team
Now, it is time to choose the right set of people. Remember, you may focus on the skill sets required for that particular department and project. There is a difference between paper qualification and actual skills and experience.
Also, consider communication and interpersonal skills when choosing team members.
Issuing assignments
Thereafter, you may need to start issuing specific assignments. Before you actually do that, you should know every team member’s strengths and weaknesses.
Surely, this involves taking stock of their experience and specialties. You can make use of a skills matrix.
A Skills Matrix
Essentially, a skills matrix uses a table to quantify and illustrate the skills, experience, and interest level of team members. A “score” is assigned to each individual based on their interest and skills. Besides, you could use the skills matrix in the future.
First general briefing: setting Ground rules and expectations
Furthermore, you need to be clear on project expectations in the first team meeting. In addition, you should brief everyone on team hierarchies and reporting structures. Similarly, you have to delegate tasks as necessary
Goal Setting
Finally, everyone has to be knowledgeable about project goals. And yes, they should be clear and SMART goals. Meanwhile, no conflict should exist between an individual or team goals. Every team should be able to work seamlessly towards the general project goal.
Conclusion
Sometimes, you may find that you are not able to dot every I’s and cross every T’s. however, when you follow the steps on how to set up a team properly, you should very well be on your way towards achieving your project goals.
