Project management is often a thankless job. A project manager must possess exceptional planning and organizational skills to keep engineers and technicians on schedule. They must also deliver bad news and motivate the team, all while the designers and demonstrators often receive the most praise and recognition.
When is it more crucial to acknowledge the collective effort of a team rather than individual contributions? Teamwork isn’t an exact science. Numerous theories exist, but when recognizing team performance, it’s important to consider that even within a team of engineers, the goal isn’t solely rewarding their ability to produce engineering solutions.
Dr. Meredith Belbin identified team roles, highlighting that individuals have two roles in a project:
1. The technical role they are trained for.
2. The team role, which allows them to contribute in other ways.
If recognition is based solely on the final stages of a project, only those involved at the end may be acknowledged.
Belbin defines several team roles, including Completer-Finisher, Coordinator, Monitor-Evaluator, Implementer, Resource Investigator, Shaper, Teamworker, and Specialist. Each role has positive traits, though some may appear more negative.
Completer-Finishers are detail-oriented and thorough, ensuring accuracy, though they may be perceived as fussy.
Monitor-Evaluators are naturally skeptical, providing a realistic perspective to ambitious ideas. Their role is essential for workable solutions, but they may come across as critical and unenthusiastic.
Shapers are driven and demanding, thriving in uncertain environments due to their boldness and willingness to take risks.
Teamworkers maintain team stability by addressing concerns and minimizing conflict. While they may seem indecisive under pressure, their contributions are valuable.
Avoid judging individual performance within a team as an outsider. It’s difficult to discern who contributed what. Project managers can be pivotal in preventing disasters, saving organizations significant amounts of money. Their efforts, though often unseen, are essential to project success.