Project management is a necessary part of running any type of business.
Whether you run a service-based or a product-based business, there are inevitably a variety of projects you’ll need to plan for. But you don’t have to make it too difficult for yourself. In fact, you can make project management easier if you know what to do.
Use a project management system
There are many project management systems that you can buy, such as Basecamp, Asana, Trello, and others. But you can also use a calendar system, a physical planning book, or even a whiteboard. All that matters is that you have a system of some kind to use for each project.
Understand the scope, goals and objectives of the project
Once you understand these three things, you can easily work out the steps to get to the end goal or deliverable. When you focus on the deliverable and stay within the scope of the project, you’ll find it much easier than you thought.
do your research
For each delivery, you may need to do some research to make sure you’re using the right tools and understand exactly what it takes to get to the finished product without skipping any steps or forgetting anything important.
write a project outline
When you know what it takes, you can review and write down all the steps needed to get it done, starting with the goal or outcome of your project. At this time, try to put things in chronological order. Some things can be done simultaneously, but some things will have to be done first before moving on to the next. This is important because, for example, if you are outsourcing part of the project, you cannot start on the next part until the first part has been done.
Develop your timeline
While looking at your outline, move it to a calendar or project management system. Put each item in your system, along with who is responsible for the task and when the expected due date is.
Be prepared to adapt
Remember that you can always adjust the project dates and schedule as you progress with the project. Always give yourself a little extra time in your schedule, especially if you have more than one or two people working on the project, to account for your issues as well.
Let your experts work
When you subcontract, as long as your instructions are clear and you have chosen experts, the work will be done on time and as instructed. But sometimes it can take time to build a team that works well together. The important thing is to keep communication open, assign fair due dates, and allow time for issues that can cause problems for everyone.
