I’ve been asked to manage a project across various departments. The team includes people I’ve never worked with before, and some are known to be uncooperative. How can I ensure success?
Start by finding out your manager’s expectations, in terms of the work itself and the time in which it must be accomplished. How you perform will reflect on your boss, so also ask about the people on the team. It’s likely your boss will be able to tell you who needs the most (and least) of your attention.
Make a high-level plan. Segment the project into tasks to assign to each individual, but don’t get caught up in the fine detail – that’s the job of your project team. Your goal is to map out the overall timeline, define the resources required (often including the budget allocation) and set the ‘milestones’ – when to stop and measure what has been achieved so far. Milestones are also points at which you can re-evaluate objectives in view of individual or team progress, and any unforeseen circumstances, before re-assigning tasks, revising objectives, or even asking for more project time. Good organisation helps to engender team spirit – essential to your project’s success.
Set the agenda for your project team meetings, ensuring your boss is copied in on main communications (which will help to pull potential troublemakers into line). However, between these meetings (which could be each week or each month, depending on the scale of the project) stay in touch with everyone individually – especially those who are being uncooperative. Keep checking that deadlines are feasible, making reasonable allowances where possible and thanking people when goals are achieved. If someone tries to steer the project in a different direction, remind them of the rationale behind the project and don’t be afraid of using your boss’s name as a weapon. Finally, make sure your boss has made room in the budget to celebrate when the project has been accomplished.