You’re in charge of a new project team. How can you make sure everyone is on the same page?

The first step is to define the project scope, milestones, and deliverable lists for your project. The project starts with WBS and sub-tasks and can be divided into smaller and manageable steps. Using the RACI matrix to assign tasks to the team members with their roles and responsibilities for each task. Communicate the plan to the team members to move to the next execution phase. This is the critical stage in which team members are to be managed by the Project Manager. Continuous follow-up with team members to understand the requirements, needs, and expectations to fulfill and move the project to the next level. Monitor the progress status and if any issues need to be communicated to key stakeholders to avoid delays in projects.

Every project is unique and requires different strategies. However, the establishment of a foundational structure is key to ensuring everyone is on the same page. This could start with a kick-off meeting, where we discuss the project's goals, timelines, and individual responsibilities. It also serves as an opportunity for team members to ask questions and clarify any doubts. Following this, develop clear Project Terms of Reference (ToR), Project Charter, Project Org chart including a RACI and finally a high-level Project Plan- It helps the team understand the project's objectives, expected deliverables, in-scope and out-of-scope elements, and timeline. All these steps combined should result in building robust a project governance/ cadence.

To ensure alignment, establish clear goals, communicate effectively, encourage open dialogue, delegate tasks based on strengths, and conduct regular check-ins. Utilize collaborative tools and foster a culture of transparency and accountability.

Well first thing first , a kick of meeting is the starting point to align everyone's understanding of scope and objectives - Scope- Requirements, deliverables, requirement, boundaries and constraints Project objectives- Goal and success criteria that align with strategic objectives Project charter- Document that authorize the project and outline scope, purpose, objectives and constraints Ensuring the communication strategy is also aligned with objectives and promote transparency and collaboration

To ensure alignment within your project team: Set clear goals and objectives. Foster open communication channels. Develop a detailed project plan. Conduct kickoff meetings to clarify expectations. Provide necessary resources and support. Clarify roles and responsibilities. Establish regular feedback mechanisms. Document decisions and agreements. Lead by example with transparency and commitment. Celebrate achievements and milestones. With these strategies, you'll keep everyone on the same page, driving towards project/Program success

We need to match the skillset, expertise and experience of the team members with the available roles. Important thing to consider is that we need to individual preference, strength and development goals in mind for individuals so that we have a very well balanced and capable team Need to ensure that responsibilities are Cleary defined and there is no overlap to avoid duplicate work

Many projects are simply not able to deliver goods despite clear scope, baselines, and outcomes. Some of the reasons are, the stakeholders or team members are not aligned with 1) Project vision and mission 2) Goals, objectives and Outcomes 3) Roles and responsibilities Thus, it is important to align people with the goals and objectives of the projects to deliver the outcomes. The RACI and DACI matrixes can help define the same in relation to the skills and capabilities desired. The PM must collaborate with the team to identify, define, and agree on the roles and responsibilities of the team members. Once all heads are clear of the expectations, they can work dedicatedly to deliver on those.

It's crucial to consider three key aspects before assigning roles and responsibilities: 1) Understand the capabilities of the current team to ensure qualified resources are matched to tasks they can effectively handle. 2) Identify knowledge gaps that prompts the consideration of obtaining additional resources or upskilling existing talent 3) Assess the team's bandwidth to ensure a healthy work-life balance. Once these factors are addressed, assigning responsible persons and utilizing tools like RACI matrices to clearly outline roles and responsibilities becomes essential for effective program management and collaboration.

The project and program plans must have synergies between them and should take into consideration different constraints, risks, and dependencies, among others. The processes and workflows should be set up after thorough reviews to ensure they act as facilitators rather than blockers. The project plan can be created in some tool like MS Project, JIRA, or even Excel and must be visible to all team members for greater transparency. The dashboards and reports should also help keep the team up-to-date on the state of the program.

Utilize proven project management methodologies such as Agile or Six Sigma to ensure efficient execution and delivery of project goals. Establish clear timelines, milestones, and accountability measures. Regularly track the progress of the project against established goals and objectives. Be proactive in identifying any potential issues or roadblocks and take corrective actions promptly.

A few tips for managing dependencies and risks: 1. Resource Roadmaps: Planning resource allocation ensures everyone has what they need when they need it, keeping projects running smoothly. Regularly review your resourcing to ensure teams are working efficiently. 2. Team Standups: Regular chats and collaboration among project teams help us stay on top of things, tackling issues and dependencies head-on. By staying organized, communicating effectively, and being proactive, we can navigate the complexities of project and program management, minimizing hiccups and maximizing success.

From experience in a new team to build trust and culture three areas play major part - Establishing open dialogue with the team, share information updates, feedback regularly - Building relationship with the team by doing regular 1:1 conversation, knowing team member strength and personal aspiration and work on it - Creating a psychological safe environment where experimental learning and innovation are embraced

In my experience if you want to have everyone on same page; first thing is to Have open discussion why we are even doing this; what is the vision; once you set the end stage everything else Comes later