Real Project Team: What Will You Do to Create One?

What will you do to create a real project team?

I remembered this when I came across the concept of 'Real Teams'. This idea comes from Jon Katzenbach, a leading thinker on teams.

Jon Katzenbach - along with Douglas Smith - is the author of 'The Wisdom of Teams: Creating the High-Performance Organization'. It's deservedly a best-seller. It is, perhaps, the most important book on Teams in the workplace, and every Project Manager should have it on your bookshelf: https://geni.us/7i1AL

Back to the Idea of a Real Project Team...
Real Teams can accomplish significant change. And they do so because of three characteristics:
1. Everyone is highly committed to the team's goals, objectives, and purpose.
They put aside their formal links to functions, departments, and personal agendas in favor of them.
2. They all hold each other accountable for the highest standards of work.
The team finds ways to have those uncomfortable conversations, because its work is too important not to.
3. Leadership roles shift from person to person.
They arise from expertise and experience, rather than status or power.

In a Project Team that is Performing, the Project Leader is not Evident
When your team is truly in the performing stage, it should be hard for an observer to spot who's in charge. Different team members will be stepping forward to take the lead, for different tasks.

Your role as a leader is more subtle:
• to provide the resources your team needs
• shield them from distractions

Project Teams Usually Cross Functions
One of the hardest things for a Project Manager to handle is the competing loyalties of your team members. To build a Real Project team, however, you must do this.

The way seems clear. First, you must show them the team's purpose is bigger than that of their functional affiliation. Without the project's success, the function will suffer.

And second, you must make your team a more engaging, fun, and professionally rewarding home than their function. This means a focus on pride, personal development, and recognition. Give people chances to lead. Help them achieve high standards. And build a culture of trust, respect, and collaboration.

What will you do to create a Real Project Team, on your current project?
Put your answers in the comments below.

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