July 2013

This is how it starts.  Your boss just assigned a project to you.  It’s too big and too complicated for you to do alone.  So your boss has given you a list of people to help you.  “Great,” you think.  “I’ve been asking for a project like this for a long time.  It’s bigger than anything I’ve ever done, and it’s important for the department to get it done quickly.” 

There’s only one problem.  None of these people report to you.  You can’t order them to do anything.  Most of them don’t work in your department.  Many don’t even work in your company. 

Look at your “team”: