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<\/p>\nWhichever way you look it planning and executing a project can be monumentally hard work with lots of strands to tie together, not to mention delegation and evaluation.\u00a0Not everyone is a natural project manager but with a few inside hacks, you\u2019ll be taking your project to the next level.<\/p>\n
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You might be facing a tight deadline and be desperate to get off the ground and get the project moving but stop for a minute and take the time to think things through.<\/p>\n
First set out the clear objectives of the project and the end aims. Make sure they are tangible and achievable rather than theoretical and hard to pin down.<\/p>\n
Without excellent planning and milestone placing, you are bound to let things slip through the net. Set realistic goals in realistic time frames and assign tasks to the right people. You don\u2019t need endless meetings but you will need to gather everyone involved together and make sure everyone knows what they\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n
The time to gather your project resources is before the project starts. Make sure you have an accurate breakdown of what this project will cost you or your company and set aside that budget where it cannot be redirected. Guard it fiercely and make it clear to everyone that the money is ring fenced. Once budgets get chipped away at they do not get replaced and having to drastically scale down a project half way through is embarrassing and demotivating.<\/p>\n
Jon Shipman, a Business Writer at Writemyx<\/a>, said: \u201cThere are two elements to budgeting that are important: careful planning and careful protection. If a project is to take place across more than one financial year, it\u2019s easy to see that money being recalled or funnelled away towards other areas. Make your case early and assign budget for every step of your project, far in advance\u201d.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>With the right people around you, the whole project is going to gather momentum that much more quickly. Conversely a group of naysayers or simply a team with the wrong skills are not going to get you anywhere, fast. Don\u2019t just choose team members based on personality or your personal preference but rather select people who you know have a proven track record for delivering great results on time and with the minimum of fuss. They may not be your closest colleagues but they\u2019ll certainly make reaching your objectives that much easier.<\/p>\n While some problems and setbacks are inevitable, it\u2019s vital that everyone working on the project adheres to your initial schedule. Shoddy time management is not acceptable and should not be tolerated. Your customers expect more and deserve to be given a realistic time frame that will be met without major delay.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re deadline just can\u2019t be met, for whatever reason, then you must inform your customer or senior management team without delay so expectations can be recalibrated and a new deadline set.<\/p>\n For team members who continually fail to meet expectations, a warning or removal from the project may be the only option. Objective delivery is key to a successful project.<\/p>\n With the above tip in mind, don\u2019t let a fear of looking over-involved stop you from checking in regularly with project team members.<\/p>\n Set aside half an hour each day to ring around project leaders and check in. Don\u2019t make the mistake of emailing where you run the risk of being ignored or given vague or intentionally obscure responses. A direct conversation will show colleagues you\u2019re interested in hearing about any problems they may be experiencing and also relays the knowledge that you won\u2019t be impressed with any delays.<\/p>\n As Suzanne Wilde, Project Manager at Originwritings<\/a> and 1day2write<\/a>, says: \u201cThis isn\u2019t about micro-managing but it is about being accountable to everyone in your team and in turn them being accountable to you. It also gives you the opportunity to give praise where it\u2019s deserved as well as picking up any issues that need solving\u201d.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>If you\u2019re working on an internal project within your own organisation then make sure you don\u2019t have anything to hide from senior management. If you\u2019re facing difficulties, let them know sooner rather than later, before a problem spirals into a series of crises.<\/p>\n The same is true for a project co-managed with an outside client. Be upfront about any issues you\u2019re having and you\u2019ll foster a relationship where they will be able to do the same to you.<\/p>\n Ask your team members to have the same attitude towards you as project leader and let them know the importance of flagging up problems as the project progresses not nearer completion.<\/p>\n If you\u2019ve been involved in project management in the past or even just been part of a team, try and remember what particular parts of the process felt easy and worked well and which were hard going and strained. You\u2019ll be surprised at what a few so-called minor adjustments will make to the pace of a project. Perhaps previous reporting lines were confused and unclear, improve them. Maybe using a Gantt chart was the best tool for assigning tasks and following up on individual objectives, consider using one again.<\/p>\n Whatever it is you remember don\u2019t be afraid to make improvements as you go along, no-one will mind if you make changes that benefit the whole team and make the project easier to manage.<\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s your first project or you\u2019re a seasoned professional, take the time to plan and execute your plans to perfection. With just a few simple guidelines you\u2019ll find yourself ahead of the game and seeing your objectives through to the end with ease. Now is the time to get yourself a reputation as a professional with killer project management skills.<\/p>\n3. Choose Your Team Wisely<\/strong><\/h2>\n
4. Don\u2019t Let Your Schedule Slip<\/strong><\/h2>\n
5. Check In Regularly<\/strong><\/h2>\n
6. Don\u2019t Have Anything To Hide<\/strong><\/h2>\n
7. Learn From Your Mistakes and Successes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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