Project Management: Manage Your Team

Project Management: Manage Your Team
By Jose Medina, Northwest University

Within the life of a project, a project manager should manage member performance. The purpose of this is to track performance, provide feedback, and offer any assistance that the member might need.

A project manager has various ways of tracking member performance. For example, scheduled performance reviews are an opportunity for the manager to learn how the member is feeling and discuss any concerns the member might have. Performance reports are another example of how a project manager can track employee performance. For example, is the team member completing tasks on time or constantly tardy? A third example of managing team members is by observation. Working with the member or watching at a distance can offer the project manager an idea of how the member is utilizing his or her time.

Unfortunately, conflicts will arise when teams are formed and it is up to the project manager to work through the issues in a productive way. Some examples of how a project manager can manage conflict include:

• Smoothing – The manager points out where the team agrees instead of the area of disagreement. Reinforcing the positive reminds the team what can be accomplished.

• Compromising – Negotiation takes place with members feeling pleased. When each member gives up something, others are willing to accept a compromise.

• Collaborating – Working in partnership with each other allows the members to collectively agree on a plan of action, usually leaving the team feeling satisfied. Every member feels like they were listened too appreciated.

• Forcing – The project manager decides on only one solution, thus eliminating the group voice. This option should be used when members cannot agree on a group solution. This takes away the negative feeling towards a team member and points it towards the project manager. Although this can cause tension between the project manager and members, the team dynamic stays in tact.

Northwest University opened to students on October 1, 1934. It is a regionally accredited institution awarding associate, baccalaureate, and master’s degrees.

Note: Implicit permission was given to republish this post, as the article was not copyrighted.