In this profession, you will work WITH a lot of great people. Rarely will the proper number of people work FOR you. It's time for creativity, emotional intelligence and a lot of flexibility.

I want to tell you a secret. Continuity planning isn’t always front and center in an organization. This is why I believe the majority of your job (or potential job) is using soft skills to get things done. An issue you may (WILL) run in to will be the lack of direct power to execute your mission. This will inevitably lead to you managing a team of great people that don’t work for you, but rather they work with you.

To be clear, managing a team of people who don't work for you can be a challenging task, but it’s not impossible. Here are a few tips that might help:

· Set clear expectations early: It is important to establish clear expectations with the team members at the outset. Be sure to communicate the project goals, timelines, and responsibilities of each team member. This will help ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same objective. The way you frame this will imply authority, even if you don’t explicitly have that authority. Your mileage may vary.

· Provide regular feedback: Providing regular feedback to the team members is essential in ensuring that they are performing their tasks effectively. Schedule regular check-ins and status updates to discuss progress and identify any issues that need to be addressed by them. A good idea would be to frontload these meetings so they are expected and harder to cancel.

· Build relationships: Building relationships with the team members is crucial for effective collaboration. Take the time to get to know each team member and understand their strengths and weaknesses. This will help you to allocate tasks effectively and (ridiculously small d) delegate responsibilities accordingly. Remember – IMPLIED AUTHORITY.

· Encourage collaboration: Encourage collaboration between team members to promote a sense of teamwork and shared responsibility. Encourage open communication and ensure that team members have the resources they need to work together effectively.

· Foster a positive work environment: Foster a positive work environment by acknowledging and recognizing the contributions of team members. Celebrate milestones and accomplishments, and provide opportunities for team members to bond and socialize. Since these folks don’t work for you, you need to make this the most relaxed experience ever. Plan ahead and be flexible.