Project Speed vs. Effectiveness


Project teams in which members are empowered to fulfill their roles and accomplish their responsibilities get a slow start. Much of their early time on the team is spent getting to know one another, understanding who will play what role, and how their responsibilities will mesh. In other words, they are designing a plan for collaboration.  They are going slow to go fast.

Teams with a dominant leader begin their project tasks much faster. There is nothing to coordinate or debate. Each member does what they are told to do.

But, before long, empowered teams eclipse and surpass the directed teams in performance. Apparently, they learn faster…perhaps because they feel their contribution is valued and they have bought into the mission of the project team. Because they have more skin in the game, empowered teams “win” in the competition between speed and effectiveness.

Which project team environment do you want to foster?

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