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Model / Deliver a Project / Set the Direction / Get the project people on the bus
Rule 03 of 12

Get the project people on the bus.

Everyone needs a support network. Build the team around the work.

A row of yellow buses ready to bring people together.

Seek clarity on:

  • –Identifying the core people needed now
  • –Getting people aligned early
  • –Clarifying roles and responsibilities
  • –Building trust before pressure rises

Where possible, get a team that has worked with your expert guide before. In any case, get your team on the same page early. Build trust, set clear roles, and create enough support to start well.

A good team is not just extra hands. It is support, challenge, trust, and shared direction.

Questions to reflect on

There are no right answers here. You do not need to complete everything. Use what helps.

Who needs to be on the bus right now?

Start with the core people who can help shape, deliver, or unblock the work. Focus on what is needed now, not the final perfect team.

  • Who is critical right now?
  • What skills, knowledge, or authority are missing?
  • Who can help test or improve the direction?

How will we get people on the same page?

Good teams do not happen by accident. Take time to build trust, set clear roles, and agree simple ways of working together.

  • Who owns what?
  • Where do we need trust or clarity?
  • What could create confusion later if we ignore it now?

OptionalPause and reflect before moving forward. There are no right answers, and this will not block progress.

Use Readiness Check

Some teams use a Play to go deeper or add structure

Plays that support this Rule

Choose a play if you want more structure.

Identify The Core Team

Work out who needs to be involved now, what they bring, and where the gaps are.

Start Play

Run a Team Workshop

Build trust, clarify roles, and get people working from the same page.

Start Play

Further reading

  1. Article

    What can projects learn from 290,000 operations staff?

    Projects do not just deliver change. They should help operations perform better, and that means bringing operations into the work before delivery starts.

    Read
  2. Article

    3 simple rules for clearer communication

    Read
  3. Article

    How To Get Your Project People Right

    Read

What you can do next

Once the core people are in place and aligned, the next step is often to build wider support around the change and keep key relationships strong.

Continue to Make Friends and Keep Them Friendly Return to Set the Direction

Confluity Project Model sitemap

Model overview

What are Jobs?

The model is organised into three Jobs:

Job 1: Set the Direction – shape the purpose into options and a preferred way forward.

Job 2: Prove It Works – test assumptions and reduce risk before going big.

Job 3: Make It Happen – deliver at scale and make sure people actually use what you build.

What are Simple Rules?

The model contains simple rules. These are short principles drawn from experience that help you make better decisions. Jobs, tasks, and plays help you put those rules into practice.

What is a Play?

A Play is a method or tool that helps you apply a rule or complete a task. Use the recommended Plays first for simpler projects before exploring others.

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