Good management makes for better morale, better products, and cuts costs by saving time and minimizing errors. An effective manager is stern yet kind, attentive to the team’s needs as well as the client’s, and is able to communicate with everyone in an effective way. Here are some rules for being the best manager you can for your web development team.
1. Listen To Everyone’s Needs
When you’re managing a development team, there will almost certainly be some level of friction among team members. Although coding languages are set in stone, everyone’s technique is different. Your team will be made up of many different people, and therefore many unique perspectives, which should all be heard and considered.
In addition to the team, the customer may have entirely different ideas for the project. Ultimately, the client is the decision maker here, but sometimes they’ll suggest changes that completely go against the team’s process.
To be a great manager, listen to everyone’s ideas and take them into consideration. When a customer makes a certain request, be sure to consult your team on the best way to go about filling that request. Take their ideas under thought and integrate a little of everyone’s input in the solution if possible.
Employees will have higher morale and perform better when the manager is attentive and considerate. You’ll notice an in increase collaboration as well since everyone will have a voice in the project.
2. Use A Wireframe
Effective wireframing can make managing your team much more efficient. By providing a roadmap of the design, you can then direct team members to specific portions of the project, connecting developers and designers and streamlining the process.
Wireframe tools are excellent resources for web development teams, saving time and money through prevention of costly errors and updates. You’ll be able to keep your client updated to changes and progression in the design as well.
The best designs start with a good draft. Team collaboration begins with communication. With a wireframe, you can achieve both simultaneously, while ensuring you’re delivering the best product possible to your client.
3. Use Basecamp
Basecamp is a web-based platform that allows easy team management, collaboration, and sharing via one simple interface, or the “basecamp”. Your team will get access to a centralized page with information on projects, deadlines, and other team members.
Your team will be better organized with this great tool, and able to share and collaborate on projects without having to track down everyone’s emails. The manager or team lead can assign tasks and deadlines as well to keep everyone up to date.
Using Basecamp will help you increase accountability among your team members, as each assignment is available for everyone to see. No more confusion about who was responsible for what; everything is readily available on the interface.
4. Keep The Client Involved
Including your client in the development process is essential to creating exactly the product your client ordered to begin with. You’ll maximize client satisfaction and minimize costly changes later on.
At the end of the day, the client has the say on what works for them. Keep them included in your development process from start to finish. They’re pretty likely to change certain aspects of the project, and it’s better to initiate a change during the development process rather than after.
Keeping your client involved will also keep the team happy, as we mentioned in the first section of this article. When everyone’s on the same page and aware of the client’s specifications, the workflow is more seamless and your team will be more unified.
Showing your design process is also a good way to keep an open, transparent relationship with your clients so they know they’re paying for a quality product. This kind of collaboration will set you apart from other companies in the industry.
5. Lead By Example
Perhaps the best leadership advice we can offer is to lead by example. This may seem simple at first, but there are situations where it can become difficult, but where it can have the most impact.
For example, if the project isn’t completed on time, and it’s a particular person’s fault for not finishing their aspect on time, it’s easy to get frustrated with that person and place blame. It’s your job as the leader to redirect the focus to the ultimate goal, which is finishing the project.
A good example is not only instruction on best practices but also inspiring to your team. They’ll see you keeping your cool, focusing on the task at hand, and managing emotions, and they’ll follow suit.
When complex situations arise, setting a good example will help you and your team successfully navigate obstacles and remain on task. If you find your example to be lacking in a certain area, consult with your supervisor to see if your company offers any leadership training or seminars.
The Take-Away
Leading a web development team is just like leading any other team, minus a few extra tools to assist you in the digital world. Lead by example, listen to everyone’s needs and don’t be afraid to utilize great tools like Bootcamp and wireframes.
With good leadership, projects are more organized, of a higher quality, and teams tend to stick together for longer. Focus on your leadership skills to maximize productivity and set yourself apart from your competitors.
