Goals – Knowledge of a project’s overarching goals provides the context for understanding the specific objectives/ tasks of individual team members. All team members should understand and be able to communicate the driving business needs and the project’s expected outcome. Those leading group interaction/ meetings should state the specific goals of the meeting, phone conference or other team communication. It’s everyones’ job to maintain focus on the goals of a particular meeting, thus respecting each others time.

Roles – Every team member needs to understand his/ her individual role and specific responsibilities. Teams are interdependent by design, heavily reliant on each member fulfilling their respective roles. Teams are intentionally comprised of individuals with unique skills, expertise and differing perspectives. As such, it is not possible for every team member to fully understand everyone’s role and responsibilities. However, members should have a basic comprehension of the duties and activities of others, especially where it directly impacts them.

Expectations – Communicating expectations is just as important within a project team as it is with the customer. Every team member not only has the right to know what is expected of them, but the personal obligation to find out. Once an individual learns he or she is assigned to a project, he or she inherits the responsibility of learning what is expected… not waiting to be told.

Accountability – Accountability is the backbone of teamwork and trust. Teams where each member meets his/ her personal project responsibilities enjoy a greater degree of mutual success than those who can’t count on each other to follow through.

Timing – In order to coordinate project activities and ensure milestones are met, team members must be personally committed to the team and deliver on their individual deadlines.

How to leverage the GREAT acronym…
Use the GREAT acronym, during meetings, phone/ video conferences, or other group discussions, to keep the focus on…
G. (Goals) … the goals of the particular discussion as well as the goals of the overall project.
R. (Roles) … the individual roles of team members.
E. (Expectations) … everyone understanding what is expected of them.
A. (Accountability) … what each team member is accountable for, the current status and ongoing progress reporting.
T. (Timing) … task deadlines and the individual commitment to their completion.

While you drive, your co-pilot is free to check weather, hotels, points of interest, traffic reports, etc. … all en route. And iPad not only lets you make reservations and purchase tickets while speeding along, but even guides you into port using on-board GPS.

iPad - Planning on-the-road and on-the-fly.

iPad, the parallel planning tool... soon to be all the rage.

…don’t need to wait for a conference room with a projector.

…eliminate the last minute rush/waste of printing and copying handouts.

…don’t turn out the lights for presentations, so no one sleeps.

…don’t have to send out for the one report everyone forgot.

The benefits of iPad meetings don’t stop in the room. Those joining by phone get the same handouts and see the same presentations.

iPad – out-of-the-office no longer means out-of-the-loop.

Getting on the same page

The iPad playbook is great from the community leagues to the majors. Plays are shown in motion and inspirational videos are ready for the opportune moment. For the volunteer coach without much experience there are glossaries, rule books and video tutorials. In the Pros every player is issued their own iPad playbook. If lost or stolen, it’s password protected and can be remotely wiped clean. With iPad it’s a whole new ball game.

The playbook of champions

iPad: Team Player

iPad – Copyright © 2010 Apple Inc. (www.apple.com)

iPad: catch the Wave and you'll be sittin' on top of the world

iPad: the digital boogie board of Google Wave.

Countdown to iPad Series – There are countless articles and posts citing what the iPad isn’t or won’t be good at. We think they are wrong. Join us as we celebrate the countdown to iPad’s debut by posting a daily iPad use case.

We have many iPad use case scenarios queued up, but could always use more. Please comment and share your iPad ideas below.

iPad – Copyright © 2010 Apple Inc. (www.apple.com)

Google Wave – Copyright © 2010 Google (Google Wave Info)

HTML5 – Specification defining the 5th major revision of the core language of the World Wide Web. The W3C HTML Working Group is the group responsible for this specification. (Working Draft)

iPad shown with Pogo Sketch

iPad: more stares of admiration / less stares of contempt.

We have many iPad use case scenarios queued up, but could always use more. Please comment and share your iPad ideas below.

iPad – Copyright © 2010 Apple Inc. (www.apple.com)

Pogo Sketch – Ten One Design (www.tenonedesign.com)

Through years of managing projects I have identified 31 prompts to keep critical team principles at the forefront & in focus. These reminders are presented in the form of six acronyms, keeping them easy to remember. The acronyms are: GREAT, FLAVOR, DREAM, ANSWER, SMART & SAFE.

G.R.E.A.T. (Goals, Roles, Expectations, Accountability & Timing)
GREAT Interactions/meetings take place when everyone understands what is expected of them and others.

F.L.A.V.O.R. (Follow, Lead, Attitude, Value, Ownership & Respect)
It is the personal responsibility of everyone to add FLAVOR to the team.

D.R.E.A.M. (Decision Makers, Representation, Expertise, Ability & Manageability)
When building project teams, remember that DREAM Teams are winning teams.

A.N.S.W.E.R. (Accurate, Necessary, Succinct, Written, Effective & Responsive)
ANSWER serves as a guide toward successful communication.

S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Agreed, Realistic & Time-based)
Efficient project management begins with developing SMART Objectives.

S.A.F.E. (Simple, Affordable, Flexible & Efficient)
Provide SAFE solutions to internal & external customers.

In subsequent posts I will delve deeper into each acronym. Until then, I leave you with a memory key. Committing the silly phrase “GREAT Interactions add FLAVOR, while DREAM Teams ANSWER Communications, & SMART Objectives lead to SAFE Solutions,” to memory will help you recall these important team principles.
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I first saw the S.M.A.R.T. acronym in use by various entities on the web. All other acronyms presented herein are original creations.