Crowdsource your Plans

Ok. When it comes to planning, maybe the concept of sourcing ideas from a large online community (the definition of crowdsourcing) is a bit extreme. That being said, if your project team isn’t actively part of your planning process, you are missing out on some huge benefits.

 Yes, you still need to spend some time thinking independently about your project – it is a necessary pre-requisite to putting together a good plan – but don’t stop there. Shift responsibility for planning to the team and become their facilitator. You’ll be amazed at what happens when you plan together.

• Creative solutions are not limited to the imagination of just one person: You’ll find that the unique perspectives of team members will spawn great ideas.
• Everyone takes ownership of the plan: There’s a tremendous difference between telling someone to do something versus having him or her commit to doing it. When people make commitments to each other, you’ll find that they more consistently meet their commitments.
• Creating and maintaining the plan are faster when the workload is shared: Though there is an added burden that comes with coordinating everyone, if it is done effectively, you’ll find that planning and plan upkeep can be greatly accelerated when everyone does their part.
• Plan confusion is significantly reduced: When people contribute to a plan, you’ll find that they understand it much better. They also understand how integral their piece is in the overall success of a project.

Of course, planning in teams is not without challenges. Coordinating and facilitating communication between team members is a bit of a challenge. Sometimes, just getting everyone in a room together to talk can be like herding cats. But those who overcome and figure it out are rewarded with projects that are far more likely to succeed.