Secret Sauce to Improve npd Project Team Productivity

When working on npd Projects, if you think that pushing people towards the targets and deadlines will get results and improve productivity, then you are making a very big mistake.

If you want people to support project objectives wholeheartedly, you must do something more. I have mentioned many times that real people bring results to projects.

As the famous saying goes – “the deepest principle of human nature is a craving to be appreciated” – William James.

And that’s exactly the Secret Sauce according to me to improve the Productivity of Project Team.

Appreciate, appreciate, and appreciate.

It is a misconception that if you appreciate people, they become lethargic and start taking things lightly. I do not agree with this and at the same time, recommend having Team Rules in place to avoid taking undue advantage of appreciation.

While working on large npd Project, you might be working with Sponsor, Customers and Key Stakeholders, but may miss appreciating the ground level project team.

When they achieve something, your simple word of appreciation makes them happy, and it reflects in their body language. It automatically creates a sense of ownership, and they bring you results. I have observed many times that appreciating and guiding team members makes impossible tasks possible with quick turnaround.

Why appreciate?

When you appreciate people, it makes them feel valued and provides them with job satisfaction. What do we least expect at the end of day after the grind of work? One sentence from boss appreciating our efforts rite? That one sentence takes away all the fatigue and mental stress and gives a sense of accomplishment and energizes us to move further with higher enthusiasm.

If you believe in appreciating people like me, as a npd Project Manager, it will give you satisfaction of working with high performance team and team can go to any extent to bring results for your one word.

Appreciating someone does not cost money, but it requires an urge to recognize their efforts. What you give comes back to you. When you constantly guide and appreciate team members, they will not be hesitant to work on difficult tasks. Rather they will enjoy working on challenging assignments with you.

The biggest challenge Project Manager faces is building trust among team members and getting things done from them. When you appreciate team members, they will be willing to work with you no matter how difficult the tasks are. You become a magnet who attracts high performers.

Influencing others is the most important skill one must master to get things done. When you appreciate others, they would like to work with you more. They will trust you and take your word seriously. That helps in increasing your self-image among others and you can get support from team members.

As you gradually move to npd Project Leader Role, people will look up to you as someone who protects the interests of team yet gets things done through recognition, mutual respect, trust, and appreciation.

With this secret sauce known to you, do you pledge to appreciate your team? I am sure that you will get much more in return from your team.

I can say proudly that my team never lets me down due to mutual respect built over time and major contributor is frank discussion and appreciation.

Now is your time!

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