Manage the
Project Team
An effective meeting consists of a group of people who work together as a
team toward achieving common goals and objectives. Here are some tips to build the
cohesiveness a meeting needs in order to become a team. While this is aimed at continuing
meetings and long-term projects, many of these techniques can also be adapted for
short-term projects:
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Identify
all presentall the participants, including yourselfas a group, and show
that you are part of that group. Say We, not I.
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Build
a group tradition. That can be something a small as starting each meeting with
bagels and cream cheese or chocolate cupcakes, to having team shirts, ties, or notebooks.
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Stress
teamwork.
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Get
the group to recognize good work, and applaud it.
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Set
clear and obtainable group goals. If the final goal will take time to achieve, set
a series of intermediate goals that will serve as measurable steps on the way to achieving
that final goal.
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Give
rewards to the group. It can be praise, a special dessert, a team jacket,
certificate, a toy or keepsake. Whatever it is, it has to have special meaning within the group.
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Treat
members like people, not machines. Each member is an individual. They are not
interchangeable. Let each one know how special and important they are to the group
and the ultimate goal.