In many fields, teams work together to achieve something. Could be a software launch, a complex tax return, building a house, or winning a basketball game. In each case, though, lots of things have to get done, and different people are responsible for various tasks. Ultimately, they all have to come together in a timely manner to create one thing: a product, an experience, a deliverable, a win.
What happens when the team doesn’t communicate about its priorities? What happens when everyone generates their own to-do list and doesn’t communicate with the rest of the team?
Well, let’s think about building a house. If the plumber, the electrician, the drywall guy, the painter, and the flooring person don’t communicate, the painter might show up before the walls are built. The plumbing and the lights in the bathroom may not work together. The ultimate outcome is that, while each individual may have checked everything off their list, the house is unlivable.
It’s worth taking some time to check everyone’s individual priorities against a list that is generated for the whole project. Identify the mismatches early, saving everyone time and frustration.
