With over 15 years practical experience working in senior leadership roles in various Civil, Mining & Construction companies, most recently Watpac and Laing O’Rourke, I appreciate and understand the challenges to get all stakeholders on the same page and agreeing on how the project will be delivered.

The Project Start Up and Team Alignment sessions are designed with a clear purpose and objective – ensure all players understand what it takes to make each other successful. Individual success over collective success is not success at all.

The sessions involve insights into default human behaviours and highlights the importance of trust. Unfortunately, we are taught from a very young age, not to be too trusting, especially with people we do not know well (Stranger Danger ring a bell?).

Getting the right attendance list is critical for these sessions. Key players include the Managing Contractor, the Client and the Clients Rep (Superintendent), all the major subcontractors and the consultants. Yes, it can be quite the entourage but if you are serious about wanting to deliver a complex project, which always has tight timelines and even tighter budgets (for all) then leaving someone out can be very risky.

The output is a clearly defined Team Charter (agreed rules on how everyone will play nice especially when things go array). And because it’s developed from the input of all participants, from open, transparent and frank conversations which harness the knowledge of past experiences, it’s ability to hold up when things get tough is its greatest value.