One challenge of the project and teamwork is deciding when we are done.

It seems obvious.

How will we know that we are done with this project and can move on?

are we done yet team building and project management www.mikecardus.com

Often the response is We are done when we have achieved the goal(s) we established.

OK, and we know, more than I would like to admit, variables sneak in there during the work:

  • We set bad and poorly defined goals;
  • In the project, we realize that the goals and problems are different than we originally assumed;
  • Management comes along and changes things on us;
  • In planning, we thought we would have the resources, and they are now gone or changed;
  • The goals are soooo far out that we cannot determine 1st step to get started;
  • There is a weak project manager;
  • Insufficient or absent support and follow up from upper management;
  • etc.…

Within the ‘7 Steps to High-Performance Teams’, we spend time on this area. Illustrating to teams and managers behavioral and work indicators, you will see when the team and project are accomplished.  Plus, when it is time to review what worked, if applicable, hand and train the work to the process owners and move on to a sustainability and change mastery phase.

Questions that may guide your team and you in determining, Are we done yet?
  • Review outcomes and ask if we have accomplished our goals?
  • Have we accomplished our goals? What’s next?
  • Why did you/we start this process?
  • What can we do better (if anything)?
  • How confident are we that we can sustain what has been accomplished?
  • How did we get this far? What kept you going?
  • Do you want to take a break?
  • What are/should be our next steps?
  • Let’s make a list of all the successes we have experienced since we started this project.
  • How can we continue to be successful?
  • Is the work of the group in line with the mission of the agency? Does anything need to change to make it in line?