“How do I keep my web design team on the same page?” If you lead a web design team, this is something you probably ask yourself on a regular basis. When you have a group of people working towards the same goal, you would think it would be simple to stay on the same page. In some cases, though, it can feel nearly impossible.
If you’re fed up with the current collaboration efforts of your design team, then this article is for you. From choosing the right project management software to involving team members, let’s take a closer look at how you can keep your team members on the same page.
1. Choose a project management system that actually works
Perhaps your team could benefit from using a different project management system. Too many teams struggle with a poor system, simply because the team leader read a few comparison lists and chose the first solution that fit within the budget. Taking software selection lightly is a big mistake, since this system could ultimately lead to your success or failure.
Steff Green, award winning author and contributor for WorkflowMax says that choosing a project management solution based on comparison lists can lead to issues. “The problem with a list like this posted by a company (as opposed to an impartial third party) is that they’re always skewed. It’s a marketing tactic, rather than any kind of honest attempt to evaluate and compare products on the market.”
Instead, Green recommends outlining your priorities to determine what you really need in a software, choosing a program approved by your team, and going with your gut instinct. By carefully considering your personalized collaboration needs, you’ll choose something that will make collaboration easy among your team members.
2. Involve each team member through delegation of responsibilities
You won’t get very far on a project without clearly dividing the labor and assigning tasks to those equipped to handle them. If possible, the labor should always be shared equally to prevent overworking anyone or making anyone feel less important.
Eli Broad, builder of two Fortune 500 companies and the 185th richest man in the world, says, “Once you’ve identified your crucial tasks and sorted out your priorities, try to find a way to delegate everything else. The inability to delegate is one of the biggest problems I see with managers at all levels.”
Broad is capitalizing on the notion that true leaders know the importance of utilizing their team as much as possible. Without delegation, not only will the team fall apart, but your leadership will crumble.
3. Put your goals in writing
Every aspect of your project must line up, from the developers to the business managers. The best way to achieve such is to have your team unite around the same goals and put those goals into writing. Doing this makes them feel more real and pressing than if they were only casually spoken in a meeting.
“Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act,” Pablo Picasso once said. “There is no other route to success.” Discussing plans with all relevant parties and writing them down is the best way to work together and unite for a goal that can realistically be reached.
4. Have the right tools available for use
Sometimes a team struggles to stay united because they aren’t given the right resources. It’s true that resources are often limited based on budget constraints, but the right tools can help even the most disassembled teams find their purpose and work towards a good cause. This is particularly true if your design team doesn’t work in the same office.
Web designers in particular are in need of good tools to streamline their processes and collaborate more successfully. An arsenal fully loaded with the right tools is the best way to promote teamwork, expose great ideas, make room for creativity, and meet deadlines without a hitch.