HIGH-PERFORMING PROJECT TEAMS

One goal of effective leadership is to create a high-performing project team. There are a number of factors that contribute to high-performing project teams. The list below is not comprehensive, but it identifies some of the factors associated with high-performing project teams.

• Open communication. An environment that fosters open and safe communication allows for productive meetings, problem solving, brainstorming, and so forth. It is also the cornerstone for other factors, such as shared understanding, trust, and collaboration.
• Shared understanding. The purpose for the project and the benefits it will provide are held in common.
• Shared ownership. The more ownership of the outcomes that project team members feel, the better they are likely to perform.
• Trust. A project team in which its members trust each other is willing to go the extra distance to deliver success. People are less likely to do the extra work it may take to succeed if they do not trust their project team members, project manager, or the organization.
• Collaboration. Project teams that collaborate and work with each other rather than work in silos or compete tend to generate more diverse ideas and end up with better outcomes.
• Adaptability. Project teams that are able to adapt the way they work to the environment and the situation are more effective.
• Resilience. When issues or failures occur, high-performing project teams recover quickly.
• Empowerment. Project team members who feel empowered to make decisions about the way they work perform better than those who are micromanaged.
• Recognition. Project teams who are recognized for the work they put in and the performance they achieve are more likely to continue to perform well. Even the simple act of showing appreciation reinforces positive team behavior.