5 Steps to

Do Great Project Work and

Prevent Project Team Meltdown

Benjamin Ang

Your Project Group can be a

HIGH PERFORMANCE TEAM or

HIGH STRESS NIGHTMARE

Which would you prefer?

There are 5 common reasons

for disaster

And there are 5 steps you can take to make a success instead

1. Communication Failure

is not enough

Can you

get your

part done

by Sat?

BBQ on

Sat?

LOL,

IDK

Sat,

OK

Step 1: Make a WEEKLY appointment now

“We will meet face to face every Wednesday at 10 am”

Every meeting must end with a WRITTEN NOTE of

What each person has done so far

What each person is supposed to do next

When it has to be done

2. Wrong Assumptions

Obviously she

should ask me

when the

deadline is

Obviously he

should tell me

when the

deadline is

Step 2: Clearly Define Roles

and Check at Every Meeting

“John will be in charge of patents. Mary will be in charge of

trade marks”

At the meeting: “John, please brief us on patents. Mary please

brief us on trade marks”

3. No Knowledge Sharing

I only know

what I was

assigned.

I don’t know

anything the

others are

doing

How will I

pass the

exam?

Step 3: Brief one another

(and I will quiz you)

John, since you

were assigned

to patents, I will

ask Mary about

patents

4. Poor Timekeeping

Whatsapp “Where is your section?

The project is due tomorrow 9am!”

“Sorry I am sick, I will send to you by

11 pm tonight.”

OR worse … silence …

Step 4. Set Pre-Deadlines and Milestones;

Appoint a Time Keeper

At the MEETING:

“John, where are the patents?

Mary, where are the trade marks?

First draft is due in one week!”

5. Not getting help

Things are not

working.

Maybe if ignore

the problems,

they will just go

away

Step 5: Tell your Tutor (me)

Recap of the 5 Steps

Make a WEEKLY appointment now

Clearly Define Roles - and Check at Every Meeting

Brief one another (and I will quiz you)

Set Pre-Deadlines and Milestones; Appoint a Time Keeper

Tell your Tutor (me) if you need help