You're leading an IT project with underperforming team members. How can you inspire them to excel?
Leading an IT project can be a challenging endeavor, especially when faced with team members whose performance isn't meeting expectations. As a project manager, it's your responsibility to guide the team towards success. To inspire underperforming team members in IT management, you must understand the root causes of their lackluster performance and employ strategies that motivate and empower them to improve. By fostering a supportive environment, providing clear goals, and offering opportunities for skill development, you can turn the tide and lead your project to a successful completion.
To inspire underperforming team members, start by identifying the underlying issues. Engage in one-on-one discussions to understand their challenges and perspectives. Sometimes, the problem could be a lack of clarity regarding expectations or misalignment with their skill sets. By pinpointing the exact barriers to their performance, you can tailor your approach to each individual's needs, ensuring that your solutions are as effective as possible.
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Existem diferentes maneiras para identificar os problemas. Um sinal bem forte, é o baixo desempenho: - Atrasos nas entregas - Qualidade dos entregáveis - Falta de iniciativa As causas mais comuns são: - Falta de treinamento. - Desmotivação. - Problemas pessoais/profissionais. - Falta de clareza nos objetivos.
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If a team is struggling with a project, it's likely there's an issue. As the leader, it's your job to get them back on track and get them excited about what they're doing.⚡️ One-on-one meetings with the group members could be beneficial in order to gain an understanding of the problem. If the issue is individual, you can work with that person to overcome it. If it is a group problem, you can hold a team meeting to discuss the matter and ensure everyone is on the same page.✅
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Engage your team so they understand the challenges and the business pain points that they are solving. For example an API integration project with a short deadline, sounds dull. But an API integration that will save operational time and boost sales while enhancing the real-time inventory status, sounds more interesting. Make the project/mission more interesting, this is the first step to boost underperformance.
Clarity is key in IT project management. You must set clear, achievable goals for your team members to strive towards. These goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound (SMART). When team members understand what is expected of them and can see a clear path to achieving those expectations, they are more likely to be motivated and perform well.
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As metas devem ser claras e alcançáveis. Quando a equipe entende o que é esperado deles e podem ver um caminho claro para alcançar essas expectativas, eles são mais propensos a serem motivados e a ter um bom desempenho. Metas SMART fornecem uma estrutura clara para que a equipe possa se orientar e alcançar seus objetivos com eficácia
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Setting goals is an invaluable exercise, as it instills confidence and excitement in the team as they work towards achieving their objectives. 🤝🏻 For goals there is multiple tools and methods you can use. One of them is SMART and other is 5 R, these five R is; Results, reasons, reflections, resources and responsibilities. 🎯 Using these methods you can keep your team motivated. ✅
Offering support is crucial in turning around underperformance. This can range from providing additional training to address skill gaps, to simply being available for questions and guidance. Remember that your role is to facilitate your team's success. By being a source of support, you not only help them overcome immediate challenges but also build their confidence and capabilities for the future.
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Algumas formas de oferece o suporte na prática: - Identifique áreas onde os membros da equipe precisam de mais conhecimento e forneça treinamentos específicos. - Ofereça orientação individualizada para ajudar os membros da equipe a desenvolverem suas habilidades e carreiras. - Mantenha uma política de portas abertas para que os membros da equipe sintam-se à vontade para buscar ajuda quando necessário. - Garanta que a equipe tenha as ferramentas e recursos necessários para realizar seu trabalho eficientemente. - Forneça feedback construtivo e regular para que os membros da equipe saibam onde estão indo bem e onde podem melhorar.
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We all need a helping hand sometimes, and as the team leader, it's your job to make sure your team has that. They might need a bit of guidance, so make sure they know they can come to you whenever they need to. 🤝🏻 This will be beneficial in the long term as well. With the right support, their work will be of a higher standard and will improve.📈
Encouraging ownership among your team members can lead to a significant boost in their performance. When individuals feel personally invested in the success of a project, they are more likely to go the extra mile. Empower them by involving them in decision-making processes and giving them autonomy over their work where appropriate. This sense of ownership can be a powerful motivator.
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Para incentivar a propriedade entre os membros da equipe, é essencial incluí-los nas discussões e decisões importantes, permitindo que suas vozes sejam ouvidas e valorizadas. Delegue responsabilidades específicas, proporcionando autonomia para que possam tomar decisões e executar o trabalho de maneira independente. Além disso, mantenha a equipe informada sobre o progresso do projeto e como suas contribuições impactam os resultados finais, promovendo transparência e comunicação.
Recognition goes a long way in inspiring team members to excel. Acknowledge both the efforts and achievements of your team. Celebrating small wins and progress helps to build momentum and encourages a culture of excellence. Make sure that recognition is timely, specific, and sincere to have the most impact.
Finally, fostering a strong team spirit can inspire individual members to perform better. Encourage collaboration, promote open communication, and create opportunities for team bonding. A cohesive team that values each other's contributions can achieve more than the sum of its parts, as members motivate and help one another to reach common goals.
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Ao longo de minha experiência e aprendizado, vejo alguns caminhos para aumentar o espírito de equipe: - Promova atividades que exijam trabalho em equipe e colaboração, como projetos conjuntos e resolução de problemas em grupo. - Estabeleça canais de comunicação transparentes e encoraje os membros da equipe a compartilhar ideias, feedbacks e preocupações abertamente. - Celebre as conquistas da equipe como um todo. - Promover um ambiente onde a equipe sinta-se encorajada a ajudar e apoiar uns aos outros.
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Dana Bowlin
Product, Program and Project Leader | Startup Mindset | Tech | Engineer | Love to Garden
After all the of the above items are done, Ensure that you are willing to make changes and make improvements when you find them. It is very difficult in certain cases to realize that a person is just not working on a team and move them or even let them go. Sometimes when managers aren't willing to do this, the team knows it and that will drive down morale. Be a leader, lead with confidence even in those hard times and your team will respect it more.
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