Do you find that you are always chasing the clock when it comes to your projects? Managing time is undoubtedly one of the most difficult aspects of any project. There always seems to be something that shifts the project off track or that takes longer than expected. Nonetheless, if you can provide a project on time, you can make a great impression on your clients. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some top tips for doing so:
- Set realistic goals – There is only one place to begin, and this is with setting realistic goals. After all, this is where a lot of project managers go wrong. If your goals are unattainable, you are setting your team up for failure and your project will never be delivered on time. For you to set clear and actionable goals, you need to arrange open discussions about goal setting, ask team members for their opinions, and analyse past projects to determine any trends and get a good idea regarding realistic goals.
- Consider project management training – There are many project management courses available today, and some have better time management modules than others. Maybe it could be time to book one of these courses? Project management training is not merely for those who are starting out. A refresher every few years can really enhance your career.
- Practice effective delegation – You also need to ensure you are delegating tasks effectively if you want them to be delivered on time. Simply assigning tasks to whoever is available first is not the way to go. You need to make sure you have the most qualified member working on the task in question whenever possible. You should also be aware of when it is better to break something up into chunks.
- Allocate resources effectively – If you do not have the correct resources in place, you are going to find it even more difficult to meet deadlines. There are a number of reasons why this is the case. Firstly, you may not have the resources in place to complete a task. Secondly, if you have the wrong person working on a project, they may lose interest quickly.
- Eliminate time killers – Where is your team losing time? One of the most important steps to take is to determine the time killers that are eating up all of your time and taking a toll on the project deadlines. Common time killers include the likes of procrastination, aiming for over perfection, frequent ad hoc requirements, meetings, checking emails, browsing social media too often, and too many casual conversations.
If you find that you are always chasing the clock when it comes to project deadlines, follow the five tips that have been mentioned above. You are bound to notice an instant improvement once you eliminate time killers, set realistic goals, and allocate resources and delegate more effectively. The smile on your client’s face when your project is delivered on time will make it all worth it!
