Onboarding a New Team - with Elizabeth Harrin

TL;DR

Elizabeth Herron discusses the crucial role of communication and stakeholder engagement in onboarding new project teams.

Transcript

elizabeth welcome thank you for having me back on your show it's a pleasure elizabeth um for those of you who don't know elizabeth runs the girls guide to project management website and the project management cafe both of which are great places to hang out if project management is your thing and also recently back in the autumn of 2020 elizabeth's ... Read More

Key Insights

• 😤 Stakeholder engagement is a crucial aspect of project management, and the team itself should be considered a stakeholder.
• 😫 Onboarding new team members involves setting expectations, establishing ways of working together, and facilitating knowledge transfer.
• 😤 Effective communication and stakeholder engagement contribute to successful onboarding and team cohesion.
• 😤 Project managers play a vital role in supporting and removing roadblocks for their team members, ultimately enabling them to deliver their best work.
• 🥅 The why of a project, the clear vision and goals, is essential for gaining stakeholder support and engagement.
• 😤 Social interactions and trust within a team are crucial for its effectiveness and success.
• 😤 Onboarding new team members onto a mature project requires clear communication, knowledge transfer, and team integration efforts.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does stakeholder engagement fit into the management and engagement of a project team?

Stakeholder engagement is a crucial aspect of managing and engaging a project team. The team itself is considered a stakeholder, and understanding the wider stakeholder group is essential for successful project management.

Q: What is the process of onboarding a new team member?

Onboarding a new team member involves setting clear expectations, discussing individual contributions, establishing ways of working together, and ensuring support and communication channels are in place.

Q: How can project managers effectively engage executive stakeholders?

Engaging executive stakeholders requires a different approach than engaging technical subject matter experts. The focus should be on clearly communicating the project's importance, its connection to organizational goals, and the value of their support.

Q: How do you prevent disruptions and maintain a cohesive team when onboarding new team members?

To prevent disruptions, it is crucial to have individual conversations with new team members, set expectations, facilitate knowledge transfer if needed, and organize team-building activities. Additionally, clearly conveying the project's goals and values helps new members feel part of the team.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Elizabeth Herron emphasizes the importance of stakeholder engagement and communication in project management.

• Stakeholders have their own life cycle within a project, from identification to engagement and finally disengagement.

• When onboarding new team members, setting clear expectations, establishing working relationships, and aligning goals and values are essential.