Building the Best Possible Project Team

We usually don’t get to pick all of our team members. When you can, focus on individuals’ characteristics that will, when combined, give you the best possible team. Here are five key traits for a successful project team.?

• The ideal mix of skills. Every project team needs the proper mix of technical and business skills. That way, the team can produce the right products that are usable by the business. You need a team that can design and build a product, but can also perform business analysis to develop procedures that will optimize the use of that product, In addition, personal characteristics, such as patience, diligence and the ability to multi-task can be important. Think through the skills you need as you build your project scope statement.?
• Include people with earlier experience working together. Team members that have worked well together before are more likely to succeed on future projects. Over time, working together means you have a better understanding of each other's strengths, weaknesses, and working styles. This familiarity can lead to improved foresight, more effective communication and efficient problem solving.?
• Include team members who directly benefit from the solution. Involving people who benefit from the project solution can give you significant insights into its potential business impact. It also cultivates a sense of ownership among the project team. Note: Verify that the perspectives of the beneficiary team member align with those of the broader beneficiary group. That way, you won’t overlook discrepancies in objectives from different areas of the business.
• Choose team members with positive relationships with key stakeholders. Maintaining positive relationships with key stakeholders can be the difference between success and failure. Good relationships build trust, and trust leads to better listening and improved exchange of both good and bad news. Good relationships also help ensure buy-in. And buy-in is crucial for meeting project expectations.?
• Strive for diverse backgrounds and communication styles. Diversity in a team can lead to innovative solutions and improved problem-solving. A team that includes a mix of communicators, creative thinkers, and individuals from diverse backgrounds draw upon a wider set of knowledge, skills, and approaches to support business needs.

As a project manager, what choices have you made that improved your team’s performance? As a project team member, what team characteristics led to positive project outcomes? Share with us in the comments section.

For more about project teams, check out Daniel Stanton’s Project Management Foundations: Teams course.

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