Leading a group project can be a big responsibility. This is true in both school and work. It can decide if the project succeeds or fails.
These four strategies can help you be a great group-project leader. They also ensure a healthy workspace for your team.
Begin with Defining the Project
The first step to completing a group project is to define the project itself. This includes identifying the project goals and the tasks that the group must complete in order to achieve those goals. One way you can do this is by creating a project outline.
This outline should also include the scope of the project, which means defining the project’s boundaries. Establishing a project timeline is also key for the outline; write down task deadlines and milestones. As your group creates the outline, you’ll witness a thorough overview of the project taking shape.
Delegate Tasks
It’s important to identify the project tasks before assigning responsibilities to group members. This helps prevent an unequal distribution of the workload. It also protects from any bias from group members who don’t want to have a heavy workload.
After you create a clear outline of all the tasks for the project, take time to learn about your group members’ skills. Then, assign tasks based on each person’s strengths.
It’s common for group members to pick their own tasks. However, assigning tasks based on strengths helps the group work better together. It’s also a way to prevent any resentment between members of your group. People are less likely to frustrate each other if they work to their strengths.
Establish a Means of Communication
Ensure that your group has a channel of communication. Have your group decide if they would rather communicate via text, email, or another method. In addition, establish regular meeting times, whether it is in person or virtual.
Meetings are a great place to evaluate if the group is making progress with tasks. In these meetings, review what the group has accomplished and identify the next steps.
Another component to establishing consistent communication is setting up a “home base” for project updates. This can mean setting up a shared Google Drive folder where group members can upload files they have been working on.
Alternatively, it could be as simple as setting up a shared document where people can write down what they’ve completed so far. This is helpful for organizing information and having a way to visualize the group’s progress.
Create a Positive Space for Your Group
As the leader of your group project, you can shape the group’s culture and mindset. This helps everyone work together to finish the project. In Project Aristotle, researchers at Google found that the most successful teams fostered a culture that established “psychological safety.” This meant that team members felt safe to take risks and make mistakes without facing negative judgment.
It’s important to create a positive space. This space should encourage creativity and allow team members to share new ideas without judgment. Additionally, celebrating accomplishments and acknowledging the work that each person does is key to keeping the group highly motivated.
By fostering a positive, welcoming environment, you can help make your group reach its full potential. For more professional advice, you can find more articles in the UMBC Professional Programs blog.