While there will always be some jobs and tasks which are process focused, most work now is a project or has a project component to it. Any task that has a distinct beginning and ending, or follows a specific life cycle is a project. Examples include: planning a company meeting, writing a new brochure, implementing new software system, etc.

If nature of our work has changed, it is important to think about some of skills that will help us succeed in this different world. Here are nine ways you can contribute more effectively to make projects you work on more successful, regardless of your specific role.

1.Understand end goal. Since a project has a defined ending, it is important that each contributor to effort knows desired end result. Stephen Covey teaches to “begin with end in mind.” This is clearly important to project team members. By understanding desired result, you can make better individual decisions and reduce confusion and re-work.

2.Identify clear roles. Each person is an important piece in overall project puzzle. Know your role and roles of others. If you are a project leader, take time to clarify these roles for everyone. If you aren’t a leader, ask until you really understand how you can best contribute.

3.Collaborate. Project work is often fluid and free flowing. Once you understand your role and roles of others you are in a position to collaborate with them more successfully. This collaboration isn’t just a nice thing for you to do. It is imperative to ultimate success of project. Look for ways and be willing to collaborate.

A non-aligned team could enjoy each other and their work. They could accomplish much, and all of that could be completely counter to what organization needs. Can you see this happening?

It isn’t just a fantasy, I’ve seen it, and I’ll bet you have too. Maybe you’ve even experienced it.

Teams can’t succeed in a vacuum, but far too often that is what organizations expect them to do, and it can lead to scenarios I’ve just described.

Sometimes this vacuum is created by omission – leaders just aren’t thinking about it or are “too busy” to set context for team success. Other times reason is optimism – leaders believe in their team members and their skills. After all they hired bright people – and bright people will figure it all out.

And sometimes vacuum is caused by a far more pervasive problem - no clear organizational goals, objectives or strategies exist to align to. Leaders must create clear strategies and they must create a clear line of sight throughout organization, so people and teams can connect their work to important strategies of organization.

It takes effort to get a team in alignment with organization’s goals and strategies. And it is impossible when those goals and strategies don’t exist.

Yes, strategies and goals may exist. And yes, they may have been communicated. This is a good start, but isn’t enough. Teams can’t gain clear direction they need without conversation. It is responsibility of leadership to provide that opportunity for conversation. This conversation provides understanding which provides team context they need to clarify their goals and make decisions that come along during their work.

If you want to build stronger alignment between team’s work and organization’s goals, consider following: