Adding project management consulting professionals to your Project Team is usually a good issue to face—it means you’re growing or increasing the scope of your projects. But before you charge ahead, remember that there are still a few things you should do to ensure the smoothest transition possible.
1 – Introduce new members. Busy project managers sometimes throw new folks into the mix with no introduction or fanfare. Take the time to present new members so that they feel welcomed, and their upcoming contributions have some early visibility. Highlight their experience and expertise, and explain where their first efforts will be focused.
2 – Introduce existing members. Tell your new employee about the skills and expertise that existing project management team members possess. You’ll not only be providing new hires with the resources they’re likely to need in the future, this is also a fantastic way to establish mutual respect among members—your incoming person will immediately understand how valuable others are to the team’s success.
3 – Emphasize long-term benefits. Team members may feel they’re losing ground when existing responsibilities are transitioned to a new hire. Remind folks that any “loss” will be offset in the long run by the ability to focus on gaining new skills and responsibilities. Upsides could also include cultivating more specialized expertise, gathering additional networking contacts, and establishing beneficial mentoring relationships.
4 – Sustain a sense of “team.” Activities that require heavy interaction and reliance among team members will help build trust between new and existing members. Whenever possible, focus these early efforts on showcasing the value of a new member’s skills and expertise.
5 – Think about career growth. Be sure your new employee knows about continuing education and other growth opportunities that are available to them. By establishing a solid path for advancement early, everyone’s focus will be on progress and productivity.
PMAlliance uses a team of highly experienced and certified professionals to provide project management consulting, project management training and project office development services.
