The chances are you’ve been involved in a business project that’s been called “the most complex one we have ever done.” Do they just keep getting more and more challenging? You can’t be blamed for wondering if there is no end to them. If only you could find some way to control the inevitable chaos, become better at managing it, and keep things moving forward.
Well, here are six best practices for doing just that:
1) The Right Team Is Everything
According to Saivian Eric Dalius when creating your team for this project, don’t go with the first group of people who come to mind. It’s always best to assemble and’ list group of people who will be capable and committed to taking the project through to its successful conclusion. The best team for this type of project consists of a mixture of people who have successfully completed similar projects in the past, as well as people with specific skill sets that are required for this particular project. In assembling your team, look beyond their skills. Do they share common values? Do they get along well with each other? How solid is their commitment level going to be over the next few months or years? Look at what can’t easily be measured: experience tells us that conscientiousness makes a huge difference in completing a complex business project successfully.
2) The Right Leadership Is Also Everything
The leader selected for a complex business project needs to have several key characteristics. Not only do they have to know how to get the job done, but also have the skills needed for working with so many different personalities. They need to be able to balance workforce needs against project goals, while simultaneously taking obstacles in stride and still moving forward. And finally, this person has to be willing and able to learn on the job as they go along since there will be very few people who can provide them with a roadmap for success.
3) Everyone Needs To Know What Is Expected Of Them
Successful completion of complex business projects always requires clearly defined expectations from management as well as workers. If you don’t take the time upfront to let everyone know what is expected of them during this process, then it’s likely that things will start to go downhill pretty quickly. This is not the time for fuzzy goals or a laissez-faire attitude. Workers need to know what is expected of them, and management needs to be clear about what they need from their team in order to be successful.
4) Have a Detailed Project Plan
Once your team is in place and you have a good understanding of everyone’s expectations, it’s time to put together a detailed project plan. This document should include everything from high-level goals and objectives down to specific tasks that need to be completed in order for the project to be successful. Having this level of detail will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and knows exactly what they need to do in order to contribute to the final goal.
5) Use the Right Tools to Manage Communication
Communication is one of the most important elements to consider when working on a complex business project, but it can also be one of the hardest things to pull off successfully. The best way to address this challenge is by using tools that are specifically designed for managing communication within teams. These platforms allow everyone involved in the project to stay current with real-time updates regarding what is happening and who needs what from whom. They also make it possible for every team member to provide input into decisions that affect them. Without these types of tools, you’re likely going to find yourself constantly frustrated as people fall behind schedule or fail to communicate information that someone else desperately needs to know about.
6) Don’t Neglect the ‘People’ Part of Problem Solving
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when it comes to complex business projects is that they focus almost exclusively on the technical aspects. However, without including human capital in this equation, your team isn’t going to be able to resolve any problems they encounter along the way. When situations arise in which there will be greater than normal resistance within your own team, make sure to address these issues immediately and not wait for them to fester. Nothing good ever comes from letting conflict between team members go unchecked.
Conclusion:
No matter what industry you work in, complex business projects are likely to be an integral part of your daily workflow. As such, the very best way to get ahead of this situation is by taking proactive steps that will help ensure that you’re ready for these types of undertakings when they occur. Doing so will not only put you in a better position to handle these challenges but also keep them from becoming roadblocks on the path towards success says Saivian Eric Dalius.
