Every industry works with deadlines. Some industries have better processes to deliver on deadlines successfully, and even more, some companies have a greater handle on project management best practices that help them execute any deadline with a look of ease.
Meeting deadlines with quality work isn’t just about expecting your team to “get it done.” Instead, successful project management is really a combination of technical skills, leadership skills, and business management experience.
To bring out the best in your team to meet deadlines, consider implementing these best practices for project management.
7 Tips for Success in Project Management
Keep these seven things in mind for greater success in leading your team to do quality work while meeting any deadline.
Have a Kickoff Meeting
A kickoff meeting is when everyone involved in the project (beginning, middle, or end participants) gather together to understand exactly what it will take to get the job done by the time it’s needed. A good project manager will make sure that everyone’s interests are aligned so the team can move together with a cohesive plan and focus.
Define Scope & Objectives
During the kickoff meeting, you will begin to develop the project scope and all objectives. After the meeting has ended, it’ll be important for the project manager to communicate these points in a written document so it can be referenced throughout the project. When you define a project’s scope, consider:
- Project Goals
- Project Deliverables
- Standards of Performance
- Project Constraints
These factors, when clearly defined and considered, will help everyone move ahead with greater clarity and confidence.
Ask for Feedback
No matter what stage of the project you’re in, welcoming feedback from both your team and your customer is important. Nothing you can do will automatically make everyone happy, but with healthy feedback and listening, you’ll be able to make adjustments or clarifications that will lead to meeting a project deadline with quality work.
Create a Resource Plan
A valuable tool for any project is a resource plan. This will show how resources (personnel, materials, or tech) are being used and at what stage of the project they are being used. One way this is helpful is it can help workers coordinate how they can share resources without slowing down the process or bogging down a particular team member during a key part of their project responsibilities.
Expect the Need for Change
Like any project, even with all the proper steps taken, a good project manager should anticipate the need for change. If you can anticipate change, it may help you handle it with more poise and pragmatism.
Avoid Unrealistic Milestones
Similar to expecting the need for a change of plans, it’s crucial for effective project management that you avoid setting unrealistic milestones. Unattainable milestones will only cause your team to become discouraged, fall behind, and may also cause sloppy work done in haste. All of these effects will contribute to undesirable results for both your team and your customers.
Review & Reflect
Once you’ve successfully met your deadline (woohoo!) it’s time to review the performance of your team and yourself. Reflect on the planning, execution, and everything else that went into delivering the work within the deadline. Learning from mistakes and celebrating what went well are all important steps for growth as a project manager and as a team.
Hire a Power Team to Make Your Deadlines
If you’re looking to add motivated and qualified employees to your team to help you meet your deadlines, contact Expert Staffing.
