Should the Same People be Involved Throughout all the Work

Sometimes everyone included is on board throughout. Sometimes some of the players change, as different knowledge, viewpoints, and skills are needed, while a core of people remains to provide continuity. In small jobs such as planning an awards banquet for the soccer team, you want the same crew involved throughout. In larger initiatives such as the Naperville Futures Project, some people change as the work changes.

Involving the right folks at the right time in the life of an initiative is crucial to its success. It infuses energy, stimulates creative solutions, and ensures that the right decisions are made. It also produces a set of champions who will act as advocates, marketers, and salespeople in the broader organization or community, ultimately involving many more people in the final implementation of your work.

By contrast, when the wrong people are involved, progress is likely to be slow. Because the necessary talents and knowledge are missing from around the table, flawed decisions are made and creative energy becomes dissipated. If you complete your planning efforts, support from the broader community may be lacking because key influencers are uninvolved or even actively hostile.

As you think about whom to involve at what stage of the job, keep in mind the following suggestions:

In the early stages, you want people who are visionary and creative.
When you want to review work done so far, you want people who are challenging, reflective, and honest.
When you need to reach consensus, you want people who are collaborative, realistic, and unselfish.
When you are doing detail work, you want people who are concrete, thorough, and meticulous.

Stage

Tasks

Types of People

Names

Early

Decide on the work and what kind of involvement is ineeded
Whom to include
How to invite them

Gather information
Identify possibilities
Sort options
Discuss pros and cons
Decide

Knowledgeable
Open minded
Visionary
Creative

Middle

How to keep people involved

Keep purpose front and center
Let people know how we are doing
Support people who are involved
Regularly reassess the kind of involvement needed
Stay open to those with differing points of view
Appreciate what people can contribute

Challenging
Reflective
Collaborative
Meticulous
Honest

Late

How to finish the job

Bring things to a close
Identify key events
Discuss experiences
Capture lessons

Thorough
Concrete
Reflective
Curious
Honest

Should the Same People be Involved Throughout all the Work

by Pearson Alistair.

Disclaimer