In recent months, the Project 7 team has grown dramatically. Since we moved to California this summer, we've hired Ann Fong (formerly with Trina Turk and Paul Frank) as our CFO/VP of Operations, Laura Wasser (formerly with Hurley and Vans Warped Tour) as our VP of Marketing, and Scott Peck (formerly with Hurley and Converse) as our Chief Creative Officer.
This week as we sat around our conference room table at our Monday morning staff meeting, I realized it was two people's first day and three other people's first month. What was a nimble and hard-working team of four is now a talented and diverse group of fourteen. I quickly realized that it was imperative that we laid down some ground rules to help the team assimilate and reduce inefficiencies and potential awkwardness.
Here are five quick and easy tips I shared with the group in hopes of assimilating an effective, and unstoppable, team.
1. Take ownership. Don't assume that someone else has it covered. Make sure you have it covered. This is especially important on a small team and one that is growing. The stuff that falls in the cracks can make or break a year.
2. Communicate. Communicate. Communicate. Be clear. Be concise. Be courteous. And be responsive. After an email has gone back 3 times is a general rule to pick up the phone, call someone or go meet in their office and knock out the task.
3. Be respectful of others. We have a very diverse company with many different backgrounds. Show kindness and courtesy. Think before you speak, and before you act.
4. Ask why and how before jumping to conclusions and changing the what. Listen, understand, and a cast a vision for a more efficient way of doing something before you skip ahead to change. Peel back the layers and learn why something was done a certain way before you blow it up and come up with another plan. If not careful, you'll most likely end up where you started and even more behind on deadlines.
5. Dig deeper. Go out of your way to take a co-worker that you don't know well to lunch, coffee or for a surfing lesson (one of the perks of being in Southern California). Get to know them, their background, and more about their area of responsibility. Get out of your normal group that you go to lunch with or go visit in their office and go spend some time with another person. It will give you an appreciation for what they do and them as a person.
Have you assimilated a diverse team? What tips can you add?
About Project 7®
Founded in 2008 by Tyler Merrick, Project 7® makes everyday products for good and is committed to ‘changing the score' by making a significant, measurable difference in the lives of people all over the world through the purchase of its everyday products including sugar-free gum and mints, organic fair trade coffee, bio-bottled water, eco-T-shirts and branded apparel. For every purchase of a Project 7 product, the company makes charitable contributions to organizations dedicated to serving seven areas of need in the world - Feed the HungryTM, Heal the SickTM, Hope for PeaceTM, House the HomelessTM, Quench the ThirstyTM, Teach them WellTM and Save the EarthTM.
Project 7 encourages consumers to help make a tangible difference by purchasing Project 7 products, volunteering their time and educating others. To learn more about Project 7 or to purchase Project 7 merchandise, visit www.project7.com. You can also become a fan of Project 7 on Facebook and follow @Project7 on Twitter.
