Teams are not the right solution for every situation. However, if you think we need better results more quickly, let's start the conversation about how we introduce a new way of teaming. I call it the permanent ensemble.
Teams aligned to key initiatives require less oversight and become more engaged as the team delivers effectively and efficiently, contributing to organizational success. Each team includes employees and/or contractors at various experience levels. Teams would stay together and deliver the priority work as a unit across their assigned portfolio. Most teams would be comprised of having 3–7 members and a program manager.?This new, flexible structure offers 6 unique benefits:
- Various experience levels: Each portfolio of projects assigned to a team requires tasks that can be completed by employees of various tenure and backgrounds. Sharing and learning the most effective ways to complete tasks collectively can improve team performance and speed the growth of less tenured employees more quickly.
- Diversity of perspective: Intentionally bringing employees together from different backgrounds, training, education can inspire new, creative solutions to new and existing challenges.
- Complementary abilities & strengths: Spending time to assemble the right team based upon known strengths and talents can unleash the full potential of the team and uncover latent talents to be employed for the good of the work and the organization.
- Commitment to cause: Identifying the right people to serve together begins with appreciating the importance of the cause the team will be working towards. Placing the right team members who understand, appreciate, and desire to make it happen is the first step.
- Loyalty to the team: Selecting individuals who have an innate desire to serve as part of a team, even being evaluated as a team while recognizing individual contribution is at the heart of this approach. Loyalty is not something to be assigned, yet putting the right individuals together, can be cultivated and eventually become an anchor for the team when times get tough on and off the job. According to Gallup, the employee relationships with their manager and their teams highly influence their level of engagement.
- Enhanced roles: A team coach would be introduced as the people managers in the PMO would construct and coach teams to support leadership’s highest priorities. In addition, a program manager will be assigned a priority (strategic) area of the organization. The program manager orchestrates and positions team members in delivering a wide array of interrelated projects and initiatives and mentors team members.
Adapting to a rapidly changing landscape can be performed by bringing the right work to the right team. Less waiting for a project manager to be identified or assembling a project team. The permanent ensemble may be the construct your organization is looking for to achieve the results your client needs today.
