When tackling large corporate projects, the levels of complexity can cause all sorts of issues for teams that need to work together to create one cohesive product. Effective teams understand how to track progress. With the advent of digital technology, planning and tracking these efforts has become significantly easier. But with all these sophisticated tools business still need an efficient plan. So how do they go about it? It’s nothing complicated, but it’s important for businesses to understand that they need to make sure that they can achieve this! So, let’s find out how to align project orientated team…
Vision Alignment
Having all teams unified under the same vision can make or break multi-team projects. To help keep teams on track, many decide to utilize an OKR on these kinds of projects. But what is an OKR you might ask? An OKR breaks down project goals into 3 different layers. Objectives, key results, and tasks. Simplifying the objectives of the project can improve the teams understanding of where all their hard work is going and what it will amount to in the end.
This approach is even more useful when working on long-term projects. Over time, teams can become misaligned with the greater purpose of the project which is why OKR systems have proven so successful. OKR systems set clear visions from the outset so it’s difficult for teams to diverge from the original big picture.
Communication
Clearly articulating the goals and aims of your project can improve employee motivation. Nothing slows a project down more than poor communication. So, focusing on concisely assigning tasks and roles to teams can avoid a lot of headaches.
Taking note from the OKR system, we can see that assigning key results to individual tasks sets a logical precedent for the team’s workflow. Workers have clearly defined goal posts which every team can see, in a larger work structure. This makes it easier for management to track the progress of a variety of teams at once, with less confusion over what employees are accountable for. Further improving transparency. This transparency is important because if new members join the team, then they can understand where they fit in efficiently, this can take your projects and your business to the next level.
This increase in transparency can lead to increased engagement in team members. This is because they better understand how their contribution fits into the vision the project is setting out to achieve. Consistent updates on the progress of other teams can also motivate other teams. Reinforcing the idea that the company is succeeding inspires other teams to succeed.
Team Building
Developing rapport between teams on large, long term projects can improve workflow efficiency. If teams develop better working relationships, they typically find it easier to voice potential concerns. Which can reduce logistical issues when approaching the end of the project. Many successful teams regularly take part in team building activities like company outings that encourage team communication.
These kinds of group exercises encourage teams to engage with each other more. Leading to a better understanding of each team’s communication styles. This can progress to better synergies between departments. These kinds of synergies are the foundation of a successful business. If every department works well together. More work can get done.
It is also a great way to see another side of your employees, you can better understand their strengths and weaknesses as individuals if you observe them in different situations. An employee might display impressive leadership skills in an escape room exercise, for example. Highlighting and celebrating these kinds of skills can inspire all your teams to do better.
To summarize, when setting out a large 4-5-year project for your business, creating a cohesive workflow throughout the project is imperative. The success of all teams within your business hinge on your ability to communicate effectively. Modern technology supports the ability to efficiently communicate but we cannot ignore interpersonal rapport to build the foundations for a successfully executed vision and project.