To make a plan is the first thing but to follow it – this is the challenge. To make the team follow the plan requires a lot of courage from the manager. In order to improve the team’s performance, the most important is to involve the people from the beginning, otherwise the resistance might be very high. We need to ask them what needs to be improved and how. Once each individual sees a piece of his/her idea in the project, the engine will start. A good start is brainstorming about the targets – what should this department deliver as results and when. Then comes turn for identification what would help to achieve the targets and what the blocks are. Everyone from the team should be responsible for something and there should be deadlines, e.g. we put only SMART tasks.
And … leading by example is crucial for the success. If people are convinced in their manager’s professionalism, success is very close.