To deliver a successful project you will need a diverse set of skills: project management, audience engagement, research, writing and interpretation, archival, media and fundraising. Not everyone will be able to tackle everything, so make sure you have the right skill set across the whole team.
The Nitty Gritty
Process phase
Teams can be small, good communication is the key to success
Suggested time
3 months
People
Plan
Steps
01
Getting the skill set
Hire the team not the individual. Look for people who will work well together, are flexible and have good communication skills. The ability to multi-task is essential within a heritage project.
02
Look local
Start with your community network. Heritage projects are often the most successful when they’re run by people who have a personal interest in the stories you want to tell. Look for candidates within your stakeholder group, and help them to feel involved.
03
Share the plan
Use your project plan to make sure everyone is on the same page, with a shared set of goals and a clear understanding of all the steps.
04
Create job descriptions
Make sure each member of the team know what they are responsible for. That will give them a sense of purpose and helps to break down the project into manageable chunks. You might want to create ‘job specs’ for each person so you can see whose skills best match which role.
05
Team-building
Once you’ve got your team together, have regular meetings – these can be as formal or informal as you like – so people can share ideas, tackle problems together, celebrate achievements and support each other in their work
