PM Tips FINAL

We hope that you have enjoyed our posts over the last few weeks with tips on how to run an effective project management campaign.  If you are just now reading them, you can click here to go to the archive and start reading from the beginning.

For more information about our program, Project Management Essentials, let’s talk.  Send an email to john.vakidis@franklincovey.com to request a meeting by phone or in person.

Below are a few more tips to wrap up the series.  Enjoy!

 

Project Management Tip #9

When you need to have a difficult conversation during your project, use a Conversation Planner.  This ensures you hit the key topics and are able to produce results from the meeting. 

It covers: 

•         Identifying your intent before the meeting occurs

•         What are the facts?

•         What is the impact?

•         What are the action items after the meeting? When do those need to be completed?

 

Project Management Tip #10

When changes to a project are made, it’s important to document them and get key stakeholder approval.  We use a Project Change Request Form to facilitate this process. This ensures everyone understands the changes and the impact it will have on the overall project. The Change Request form includes:  

•         The proposed change

•         The reason for the change

•         How the change will affect Time, Scope, Quality, Resources, Budget, and Risk

•         Signatures from the key stakeholders

Project Management Tip #11

As a project manager, you need to monitor & control the project without becoming a micromanager. Use a Project Status Report to check on the project deliverables on a regular basis.  This allows you to both monitor the people responsible for items and communicate with key stakeholders in an organized way.

 

•       Identify the deliverables and if each one is On Target, At Risk, or In Danger.

•       Gather “Clear the Path” items that others need to assist with, and assign them to specific individuals with specific due dates.

•       Share the Project Status Report with both project team members and key stakeholders

•       Include the Project Status Reports in your files on the project. They are useful during the Close phase to analyze what worked well and where projects faced challenges.

Project Management Tip #12

When a project is complete, you still have the vital step of Closing. This is often neglected and leads to “history repeating itself” on projects. Be sure to document Lessons Learned so future projects can use that information during the planning stage. 

 

•       What worked well?

•       What could be improved?

•       Based on what we learned, what will we do differently?

Project Management Tip #13

Use a Closing Checklist when finishing a project to ensure you’ve captured all the necessary information and completed the important tasks.  Some of the items may not apply to all projects.  

 

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Friday, March 1^st, marks the end of our FREE Virtual Certification Promotion for our newest program, ProjectManagement Essentials for the Unofficial Project Manager.  If you are interested in bringing this content to your organization, contact us today, 214-387-9960.

If you would like to attend a preview webcast, join us at 11AM Central on March 1^st for a 1-hour introduction for decision makers.  Follow this link toregister online.

PM Tip 8

Project Management Tip #8

To execute a project effectively, we recommend holding regular Team Accountability Sessions. These are very brief meetings where each person reports out on if they have kept their commitments and what their next tasks to complete are.  Here are some guidelines for a Team Accountability Session:

 

·         Bring the project schedule.
·         Report on last week’s commitments.
·         Make new commitments for the upcoming week.
·         Gather clear the path items that team members need assistance working through.

Do you want to attend Project Management Essentials for the Unofficial Project Manager?  This program is available for public open enrollment for 20% off our full-day webinars during the month of February.  This is a full-day webinar broken into three sessions. 

Online Public Training Dates:
Thursday, Feb 21
Wednesday, Feb 27
 

Our next tip in the series is going to be about using a Conversation Planner.

PM Tip 7

Project Management Tip #7

When creating your project schedule, you must identify the Critical Path.  A project’s critical path is the longest sequence of scheduled activities that must start and end as scheduled and that determine the duration of the project.  If any activity on the critical path is late, the entire project will be late.

Learn more about Project Management Essentials for the Unofficial Project Manager.

 

For questions, please call 214-387-9960.

 

Check back in next week for our next tip on Team Accountability.