Mastering Time Management

Time management is a skill that all project managers need to have. If your project is to be completed on time and to a high standard, you need to ensure that time wasting is minimised and that your team is productive for the vast majority of each day. Of course, this can be a lot easier said than done, which is why we have some great tips to help you out. Read on to discover everything you need to know.

Mastering Time Management

Take a project management training course – There are many project management training courses that are available today, from PMP to APM Project Fundamentals Course. You will find that all of these courses will have some element of time management training. After all, it is one of the most critical elements of any successful project. You will learn many different tips and tricks that you can use to manage time well during a project.

Ensure skill gaps are bridged before the project starts – The project planning phase is undoubtedly one of the most critical stages in the lifecycle of the project. At this point, you need to assess the skills of your team in line with the tasks that need to be carried out. You need to plug any skills gaps now. This could mean employees taking an RN to BSN online program or it could mean that you need to seek a company for outsourcing a certain element of the project.

Create a to-do list – This may sound like a basic tip, but it is a very important one. In the modern day, we seem to be fixated with emails, and it can distract us from doing the tasks that we actually need to do. In order to ensure you remain focused, you should keep a daily to-do list. Scratching tasks from your list will drive further activity, as it will create a real sense of achievement.

Don’t try to do all of the work – When deadlines are looming, it can be tempting to take over and get in on the action. However, taking your eye off the ball will only create further problems. Managing a project is a full-time job, and you need to leave your project members to get on with the tasks at hand.

Avoid micro-managing – You do not need to get involved at the basic end of your projects. For example, if you are managing a software development project, there is no need for you to get involved at the code level. This is something that should be left in the capable hands of your developers. You should focus on steering your project in the right direction, and your team members should be left to do what they do best.

Be efficient with meetings – Meetings are an important part of any project. But, they often overrun and there tends to be a handful of people in attendance that really do not need to be there. Make sure that you do not include everyone in lengthy discussions that do not involve them.

Don’t forget the 80/20 rule – When it comes to a project, only 20 per cent of the activities you carry out will produce tangible results. It is important to identify what these activities are, and focus them.

Create a plan – Last but not least, the importance of creating a project plan cannot be stressed enough. You may be wondering what it has to do with time management, however. But, with a plan in place, you will ensure that everyone on the project knows what he or she needs to do and what they are working towards. This means that you are not going to be spending a considerable amount of time dealing with issues due to a lack of clarity.

Hopefully, you now feel more prepared when it comes to mastering the art of time management. There is no denying that this is a critical part of any project, no matter where you work or what sort of project you are in control of. If you follow the tips that have been provided above, you will have a much greater chance of meeting your deadlines.

Image Credits: Pixabay