A common problem on projects is that you and the team get so used to working on the long project, deep in the detail, that you can't see the big picture. The issue with this is that you really do need to be able to take a big picture view sometimes as it helps you see how the project fits into the organisation and how what you are doing adds value. Knowing that context will in turn help you keep the focus on what you are trying to achieve. And, if things change, it helps you change accordingly to take any modifications into account while still keeping your 'eye on the prize'

Unfortunately, this big picture view can drop out of sight, especially if you are working on a long project and you've been involved in it for a while.

You can get so caught up in the minutiae of your project that everything else seems insignificant. So how do you get that focus back? Here are some ideas for helping your team see the big picture.

Share objectives

First, check that everyone on the team actually knows what the project objectives are. You might think that sounds simple but it is easy to take for granted. Don't assume that just because they work on the project that they know what the big picture actually is! In fact, don't assume that because you have already taken the time to explain this to them that they have remembered! People who joined the team more recently may not know and others may have forgotten.

It doesn't take much to summarize the project's objectives and the organisational context for the work. You can do this at the start of team meetings or even make a poster explaining what the project is for.

Create investment in the project

Can you tie their personal performance targets to the project somehow? Creating investment in the project can be as simple as making sure that they actually understand how their contribution will help the business move forward. The project might seem like a small part of the company but if you can link it to business strategy then people can see how their involvement actually matters. When you feel like your work matters and you can set it in context, you'll find that morale goes up!

Delegate decisions

People feel more invested in a project when they have a say in how things are run. What decisions can you delegate to the team? The more authority they have, the more they will feel empowered, have to take the big picture into account and act accordingly.

Delegating decision making for some decisions will free up some of your time as well. Of course, you'll need to carefully decide what decisions you can let other people make and what should remain with you as the project manager. Once you've looked at this, you'll probably find that there are plenty of decisions that can be delegated to a lower level. When you work with a team that you trust, this is easy.

Share in a bonus

This might be an option open to you-some companies allocate financial bonuses on the successful completion of a project. If the team members know that there is some cash in it for them they'll probably be a bit more motivated to crack on and complete the work, and they'll pay attention to 'small' things that will help them get there, like the big picture view.

Not everyone is motivated by money, so this might not work for your team members, even if you have the budget available to do it.

Make them accountable

Even if you can't reward them financially, you can make your team accountable for project results in other ways by setting appropriate levels of authorization for them and making sure that their personal objectives for the year reflect the work that they will be doing on the project.