Team Principles – Minding Team Gaps

Sunday 31 January 2010 - Filed under Communication + gaps + GTD + project management + Teams

Projects succeed when teams succeed. Successful teams share a congruent vision, pursue coordinated objectives, are bound by trust & adhere to timeless principles.

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.

2010-01-31  »  Russ Leseberg