Teamwork and Project Roles: How Successful Projects Come Together

“Most success depends on colleagues, on the team. People at the top have large egos, but you must never say ‘I’: it’s always ‘we’.” – Frank Lampl.

Delivering a successful project is always a team effort.

Here’s a quick look at how project roles and responsibilities typically work in a marketing department. The main roles include the project manager (PM), project sponsor (PS), team members (TM), and the user or customer.

Project sponsors are usually senior leaders or directors. They provide the vision behind the project, explaining why it’s important and what they want to achieve. A project’s success depends on the sponsor clearly defining the project’s goals and communicating these in the project scope to the project manager.

Sponsors also act as advocates, promoting the project both inside and outside the organisation. They help remove obstacles and ensure things run smoothly. However, busy schedules can sometimes delay critical decisions, which might slow down the project’s progress.

The project manager has overall responsibility for making sure the project delivers on its goals, on time. They work closely with team members, sponsors, executives, and users to keep everything on track. In marketing teams, the group marketing manager often takes on this role.

The PM organises everything, documents the project from start to finish, and translates the sponsor’s vision into clear tasks. They assign work based on team members’ skills, providing leadership, guidance, and motivation.

Project managers create and maintain project plans, kick off the work, adjust the course when needed, and manage risks. They also keep sponsors informed to prevent misunderstandings or conflicts.

Think of the PM like the conductor of an orchestra—bringing together many different parts. Projects can get complex and overwhelming, with risks of communication breakdowns or micromanaging. Too much control can limit creativity and harm team morale.

Team members are skilled professionals focused on their specific roles to help achieve the project goals. A strong team might include graphic designers, marketing admins, digital marketing specialists, and team leads.

Trust is key when building a team. Everyone needs to work well together. Some team members might avoid responsibility, which can cause delays. The challenge is to find a balance—motivating the team to meet deadlines without micromanaging or holding them back.

“Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilisation work.” – Vince Lombardi