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Eights Steps for Successful Project Management

<img class="size-full wp-image-1839 alignleft" src="https://www.copperproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/detailing versand viagra.png” alt=”detailing” width=”339″ height=”227″ srcset=”https://www.copperproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/detailing.png 339w, https://www.copperproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/detailing-300×201.png 300w, https://www.copperproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/detailing-100×67.png 100w” sizes=”(max-width: 339px) 100vw, 339px” />It doesn’t matter whether you are leading a small project or a bigger one; planning is the key to nailing all milestones. From company trips to million dollar merger and acquisition deals, each project needs the right tools and efforts to streamline the path to success.

While you are never going to know how the project will pan out until you are halfway through, when you make informed decisions you can be sure that you keep your team focused on positive results.

Coming in from the pros, here are eight steps to successful project management:

#1-List down the tasks

List down all necessary tasks. Make sure that you have all the strategies in place to reach those goals.

Break down the tasks into simpler details so that you can fix them in your schedule. For example ‘identifying product requirements’ should be broken down to ‘focus groups’, ‘get in touch with sales department’, and/or ‘review correspondence’. Once you make your tasks specific, you will realize you don’t need to spend much time on them.

#2-Assess people

Next, you need to find out if you have enough people on your project and whether they are available. This is especially important if you are running on a tight budget and hiring more people doesn’t seem practical.

Also, this is where you try to match the skill set of people with the tasks. Do they have the skills you need? Do they have past experience with the same nature of projects?

#3-Planning with your team

This is where you need to involve the clients as well as your team – people who you are doing the project for and those who are helping you do it.

Planning with your team is more effective as each individual gets to have a share in the schedule of the project. This also helps you distribute the load evenly and not overload or underutilize people.

#4- Timing

Figuring out how much time a project will take can be tricky, but is necessary if you are planning to create a practical schedule.

Analyze your strategies to identify how much efforts need to be put in for each task. Take into account any public holidays and team member leaves. Just like in the last step, involving your team here can be highly effective as well.

#5-Analyze risks

When planning for a project, it is important to remember that not all plans would be carved in stone. There are risks that demand attention and can quickly change the planned schedule. In such cases, identify the problems and make appropriate changes to the schedule to facilitate them.

It is a sound decision to write down all problems you think you can face so that you have a clear idea of the risks involved.

#6-Set milestones

Setting goals and milestones plays a key role in keeping your team motivated and allows you to keep track of your progress.

Overburdening your team with heaps of tasks each week can drain them. Instead have milestones that mark the completion of a phase. This can put the project into perspective and provide a consistent track towards completion for everyone. Also make an effort to discuss milestones achieved and congratulate your team.

#7-Team calendaring helps

Team calendaring is a great way to increase efficiency and productivity. As a project manager, at times, it might be impossible to manage your own agenda, let alone your team’s.

Developing an understanding of shift days, timings, days off is critical to project completion. You can do this by team calendaring. It should be accessible by everyone to enable them to make informed decisions and stay updated with the progress of the project.

#8-Check progress and make changes regularly

Nothing goes according to plans and this is especially true when you are leading projects. This is why you should stay in touch with your team members and their progress. Any necessary changes should be made on the spot to eliminate chances of problems. If you can’t keep up with daily meetings, it is imperative that you conduct meetings on a weekly basis to ensure that everyone is on the same path.

There you have it; the eight important steps to successful project planning and management. If you still haven’t integrated the latest project management tools, browse through our blog to learn why you should start today!