Plagued by Rework or Missed Deadlines?

By Barbara Somma

Does this sound familiar? Your staff, suppliers and those you interact with are technically qualified but work in silos, never thinking about the overall project. Unattended details and miscommunications create rework causing missed deadlines and decreased profits. Discussions of the oversights become a “who did what conversation” ending in anger or hurt feelings. So you avoid them.

Create a Team Mentality

Gather everyone necessary to get the job done- the TEAM. They must understand how their work contributes to or hinders this effort. Acknowledge their hard work and explain that together you’re going to create a new work environment. Focused teamwork is key to reducing the day to day disconnects. Describe how you’re looking forward to their input and participation. Participation will set the stage for collaboration and thinking beyond the individual tasks.

Working as a Team

Have the group layout the flow and timing for an ideal effort, and highlight critical actions, follow up and follow through steps, deliverables and realistic lead times. Next, identify areas that have routinely caused problems. Brainstorm how these can be avoided. Establish criteria and a schedule for essential communications between team members or customers. Compare ongoing work to the ideal. Gain agreement on what needs to be done to keep it on track. However, regardless of plans the unexpected will happen. Come to an understanding on roles and responsibilities for managing crisis. Communication is at the core of team work, establishing standards for content and timing will sustain the team’s effort.

Recognize, Reward Progress

Project progress, feedback, next steps should be openly discussed and visibly tracked. Immediately recognize and reward exceptional work or initiate performance improvement plans when work doesn’t meet standards.

Success

The qualities of the team leader are essential for success. The team leader must be committed to the team’s success, enjoy organizing, avoiding and solving problems, able to motivate individual achievement, have strong communication skills, easily multitasks and be well respected.

As teamwork develops, the group will begin to take pride in catching problems before they occur. Your conversations will be about moving the business forward rather than “who said what”.

Success Coach Barbara Somma, MBA, owns Defining Destiny in Sarasota. She can be reached at 941-923-0541, bsommacoach@verizon.net or www.definingdestiny.com.