Build an Effective Project Team

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KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The first step to building an effective team is having a clear goal and making sure each member knows what they’re working toward.
  • Determining how well a person works with a team and how they respond to feedback is as important as evaluating their technical skills.
  • An effective project team requires effective communication so everyone is aware of any changes and can take immediate action.

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Building an effective project team is an art hard to master. It requires the ability to turn the group of individuals into the strong and organized system walking towards the common goal. The importance of team building is difficult to overestimate, the human factor is still the king and no matter what sphere we are talking about. Being able to form an effective team is probably one of the most important key competences of a successful project manager.

You’ll never accomplish the great goals by your own, that’s why building a team is something you’ll have to do quite often as a project manager. There are lots of strategies and general advice on how to make your team effective, like where to find the right people or what leadership style to follow.

In this article, I’d like to share with you some tips for building an effective project team so you’re wel-equipped for when you have to gather your own team for your next project.

How to Build an Effective Project Team

1. Set a clear goal

This is the first and the main thing that keeps the team working together productively. Motivation is not all about the money. All types of stakeholders involved in the project should know what they’re working toward. They should understand the value the project will bring and their own contribution to the final result. That’s why, if the goal is clarified for each member, the chances to achieve it significantly rise.


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2. Get the right people to do the job

This looks pretty much obvious, but it can be a real challenge in certain situations. Developing a successful project team means evaluating not just their professional performance but the human qualities, too. The project manager should pay attention to how well this person works as a part of the team, is he communicative and open to criticism and suggestions.

3. Distribute the roles and responsibilities

As soon as the team is formed, make sure that you clarified the tasks of each member to assure that everyone knows his zone of responsibility. Turining the performance of individuals into the common performance that ensures the goal achievement is like collecting the puzzle – you need to get the right pieces on the right places in order to see the complete picture.


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4. Establish effective communication

In order to get the job done the best way possible, you should hold the meetings and discuss if everything goes the right way. The team should be interconnected and aware of any changes in terms, project documentation and means of the goal achievement and responce to these changes accordingly.

5. Be a team not only in the workplace

In order to bring more value, you should interact with each other out of the office. There are lots of team-building events which can be held to make the relationships stronger. Thus, the whole team learns to understand each other and as a result, work in a more productive way.

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