Following best practices in project management is important for a number of reasons. Firstly, it can help to improve the efficiency and productivity of your team, as well as the overall quality of the project.
This is because best practices are designed to provide a structured and systematic approach to managing a project, which can help to ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals. Secondly, following best practices can also help to reduce the risk of errors and delays, as well as the likelihood of unexpected problems arising. This is because best practices provide a set of tried and tested methods for managing different aspects of a project, which can help to minimize the chances of things going wrong.
Finally, following best practices can also help to improve communication and collaboration within your team, as well as with stakeholders and other interested parties. This is because best practices often involve using clear and consistent communication channels and processes, which can help to ensure that everyone is kept informed and that decisions are made in a transparent and effective manner.
Follow our 8 tips to move along your projects smoothly.
1- Plan, plan, plan!
The more you plan, the higher your chances for success! Start by establishing a list of all the project phases and required tasks. Be sure to carefully divide each major phase into a multitude of small steps. This is a great way to remember everything, to avoid backtracking and to motivate your work team, which will see the steady progress of its efforts on a daily basis.
Before starting work on a project, it is important to define clear and specific goals and objectives. This will help to ensure that everyone on the team understands what the project is trying to achieve, and will provide a common reference point for decision-making and progress tracking.
Next, organize the order of the phases and tasks, and save all this information in Kiwili’s project management tool.
One of the difficulties of project management sometimes lies in an inability to properly estimate the workload of a particular task. Don’t hesitate to ask a colleague for their opinion.
Remember that some activities can be done at the same time, and that others need one to be completed before they can begin. As the project manager, one of your roles is to limit the number of unexpected events. To do this, careful planning is required. Leave nothing to chance!
2- Estimate higher costs
Is the project still profitable if the worst case scenario arises? Initially, it is better to add some flexibility to the established financial planning. In addition to direct costs, you must consider the indirect costs (administrative support, cost of office supplies) that could affect the profitability of the project.
3- Store your data in a safe software
In order to be efficient with your project management, collect all the relevant information and files that will be needed during the project. Since your data is the heart of your business, you need to make sure you store it in a secure place. You can count on Kiwili for that.
4- Do not deviate from the critical path
Make sure you stay on track throughout the project, and especially during key phases. If necessary, readjust and plan for additional financial, material and human resources.
5- Support your team members
As project manager, you need to provide leadership, direction, and above all, support to team members as they go about completing their tasks. Listen to them when they need you. Do not hesitate to use their creativity. A miracle solution sometimes emerges from a brainstorming session.
6- Communicate effectively and continuously
Your work team must be aware of the plan. Keep them informed not only of the progress of the project, but also of the potential difficulties ahead. A well-organized meeting with coffee, fresh fruits, and perhaps a little chocolate may be worthwhile. A cohesive team is essential to achieving the desired victory.
Good communication is essential for the success of any project. Establishing effective communication channels, such as regular team meetings and updates, can help to ensure that everyone on the team is kept informed about the project, and can provide a forum for discussing any issues or concerns.
7- Follow-up rigorously
Adapt your schedule by revising it on a daily basis as work progresses. Check regularly if your progress matches the plan and modify it as needed. What’s going well and what could be improved? What could you do to turn the tables around?
Regularly monitoring and tracking progress is essential for ensuring that a project stays on track and is completed on time. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as setting milestones and deadlines, and using project management software to track progress and identify potential issues.
Kiwili is an all-in-one business management software. It is at the same time an easy invoicing software, an accounting software, a CRM, a convenient project management tool and a time tracking software. Everything you need to manage your business like a pro!