Team building for a successful production.

Cynics might shake their heads, but one of the most important elements of managing a successful production is team building. It's also an element that is often pushed to the back burner or ignored because it's hard to attach an immediate cost/benefit relationship. But it's there and it can be huge. In fact I have a hard time listing another industry where people management skills are more important to success. Here's how I approach it.

Trust – Be Open and Honest
Productions are always tough. Cast and crew are most often working under grueling physical and emotional conditions and it can be easy to lose perspective. Like any other workplace there are agendas and various levels of disclosure due to commercial or political pressures and the grapevine is always active. If you are keeping someone in the dark or being deceptive, I can promise it will be uncovered and talked about until it grows into a monster. I've never seen a team produce their best work under those conditions nor seen that type of management work in the long term.

When I manage a production I try to be as open and honest with the team as possible. I try to answer their questions directly (even if the response is not entirely favorable) and act as a conduit of information, not a barrier. If I feel I cannot divulge something, I say so. Everyone understands the need to sometimes keep something close to the vest but the teams I've worked with have always appreciated honestly and reciprocate by relaying information and producing.

Equality – Be fair and even handed
One of the maxims I have as a producer is “individuals can succeed but only the team can fail.” What this basically means is that you should dish out credit where it is due in public, but criticism in private. There will be times when an issue will need to be addressed and when necessary I do so directly and make sure both the negative behavior and means to correct it are understood, but criticism in front of the team is not a motivating force for anyone.

Loyalty – Protect your team
Producers and production managers have a split responsibility - on the one hand you have a duty to your client and the project - on the other you have a responsibility to represent and support your team. In a perfect world these two aims should be neatly aligned – but that's not always the case. In these situations it's important to maintain perspective and integrity. In situations where a conflict arises we must resist the temptation to air dirty laundry. Instead I try to discuss the situation with the team and come up with a consensus solution. Open discussion of the problem will encourage the team to take ownership and solve it themselves.

Building a production where people are motivated to perform at their best takes effort, but the benefits and results can't be overstated. Besides it's not always so tough. Sometimes you can move mountains just by remembering to say thank you.