Successful Teams Are NEVER Automatic

Someone has to give leadership to your team or committee if you want to end up on a horse with saddle rather than on a camel built by committee. At least, that has been my experience working with teams/committees on numerous projects. Usually, I call a leader the man or woman on a “white horse” who is out front of the pack with the map and end of journey details.

All leaders know employees or church groups must have someone to give the “atta-Boys” for encouragement and direction. Most of us need guidance then a little pampering when we’ve done a good job for our employer. Maybe we can earn a little bonus too when we bring the project in under cost estimates.

Church members respond to the pastor and leadership willing to step forward to give their valued guidance. Employers hire coaches, consultants, etc. when necessary to get an important project completed on time. Sometimes special skills, talents and knowledge are required for a specific assignment.

Employees respond to quality leadership. Time is precious but must be given to explain any new, sometimes old, programs. Nothing beats quality training on a new product or service with the end in mind. What’s the plan? Where do you expect us to be in 3 months? 6 months? 12 months? Knowledge is imperative when you share it with employees so they have the end in mind.

First, we should look within the ranks for leadership. Are there team leaders in your firm already? What’s their challenge? Do the leaders understand the project/program well enough to teach it to their team/committee? Do we have a plan so everyone is informed with the details? Simple they say, right? If you don’t know “how” the program works or its purpose, then find someone who does. You don’t want a lot of wasted time, money, and energy being thrown away for no good reason.

Remember the “W” begins Who, What, When, Where, Why with HOW needing to be answered too. Leaders have to know the answers before they can lead the project to its desired conclusion. Most important is letting your employees share in the details, open up communication for all to be “in the know”.

Don’t begin the project without your project map [steps] documented from beginning to end. Are there links missing or unknown? Every leader, employees too, must know the goal [end results] for the project or someone is going to be headed in the wrong direction. Not good in football, basketball or business.
Halftime is when the team heads back to the boardroom, the locker room, or to the coach for answers and direction. Don’t be afraid to ask when you don’t know. There are no dumb questions if you need answers. Many profit dollars have been lost because someone failed to ask for guidance. Don’t let that person be you. Think is good advice, but if you have questions, concerns, or fears…. Let your leader know. He/she will respect you for it.

You’ve heard the question “are we there yet?” Most of us have because the end of the journey was still fuzzy, especially to children. Distance and time are unknown in our mind unless the “driver” or leader shares the details. Every project can be fun as well as an exciting challenge IF…. we know what’s expected of us and where we’re supposed to end up.

Most of us expect our leader to know the details so we can follow his direction, his leadership and guidance. Employees, committee members, teams all like to have someone they can follow with confidence. What’s expected of the team? Progress to our destination needs a map laying out each step. Where are we [should be] by end of month, year or longer for the project at hand.

What tools are needed? Supplies required? Number of employees needed? How much money is available? Give us the details. We want details. Are there special skills and/or talents required? Do we need to go outside for consultants with required training, knowledge, skills for the project? What’s the cost? Can we afford the manpower needed from within or do we use temporary help? Are former employees, retirees available?

Don’t turn a 3 page document outlining the project into a 692 page legal brief, but knowing the details and the expectations to accomplish our goal within budget is important to our journey. A successful conclusion is our goal.

Be concise, to the point, and as brief as possible. Obviously, the more money required for the project, the leadership/management expertise, workforce requirements from inside and outside, the greater oversight is required. You wouldn’t build a house [we hope!] without some blueprint to follow and then challenges will still arise just as they do in all projects.

Usually, there’s some RISK in most things we do. Drive from NC to CA [3,000 miles] and only God knows what we may encounter along the route. Rain, sleet, snow…. Deer, goats, sheep may be crossing the roadway along some lonely route with road-kill in our path while buzzards do the cleanup. Hitchhikers may be begging for a ride or farmers are going down the road on a tractor, combine following, maybe at 15-20 miles an hour, triggering anxiety, frustration and sometimes anger in us. Our patience is challenged, nerves are frayed UNLESS all of us in the car know the map [each days plan] and understand our destination goal….. same as all projects in our future.

Actiontip: Never begin a project UNTIL everyone is “onboard” and understands the steps [map] required to reach your journey’s goal. As leader of the project you must anticipate the questions indicated above, so be sure as the leader you have the answers before challenges arise. Answer all the “W’s” and “How to” in advance so you have the buy-in of your team or committee.