Whether you’re working on creating a new marketing campaign or getting ready to exhibit at a trade show, large scale projects can be a challenge. When things go right, having many people working on a project can help get things done faster. When things don’t, however, the friction between team members can bring progress to a halt. So, how can you keep things running smoothly?
1. Make Sure Everyone Knows the Plan
Nothing helps a project so much as keeping everyone on the same page, so make sure that everyone involved in your project knows on a high level what the plan looks like. That way everyone knows what their part is, what their deadlines are, and whose work might rely on theirs.
2. And Make Sure that Plan is Consistent
Have you ever been in a meeting and walked out of it with a strong game plan, only to have someone else get a completely different message from the meeting they attended? Not only does this make a plan hard to execute, but it can become frustrating for everyone working on the project. Instead, make sure the plan for your project is as consistent as possible and make sure that everyone is updated when changes do occur.
3. Give Updates When Needed
Take time to touch base often! Not only does this ensure that everyone knows how much progress you’ve made as a team, it also lets everyone know when one person’s task has hit a snag. For example, if one employee is researching the market before another employee can get started creating a marketing piece, it’s essential for both employees to know where the research has hit a snag.
One of the best ways to do this is to have periodic meetings. For big projects with a quick turnaround, scheduling 30 minutes every day to touch base can help keep things moving. For long term projects, a weekly, biweekly, or even monthly meeting could be the option you need to keep things moving.
4. Don’t Neglect the Social Aspect
While not a result of the project itself, social friction can also cause difficulties in your work day. Being short or grumpy while working on a project can easily stress everyone out.
That’s why it’s important not to neglect the social aspect of a project. When possible, give employees a chance to talk face-to-face about the project and its progress, because it can be easy to lose sight of the other people working on a project when we’re buried in our work. Consider ways to keep morale up when deadlines loom. Not only will this help employees keep their mood up individually, but it will help foster teamwork overall.
How do you ensure that projects keep moving? We’d love to see your suggestions in the comments below.
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