{"id":4900,"date":"2018-07-25T10:04:44","date_gmt":"2018-07-25T07:04:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/109.199.120.83\/~blog4507\/?p=4900"},"modified":"2024-06-15T07:41:03","modified_gmt":"2024-06-15T07:41:03","slug":"project-management-best-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toggl.com\/blog\/project-management-best-practices","title":{"rendered":"10 Best Practices for Project Management in any Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"

They say practice makes perfect. I don\u2019t know about perfect, but practicing definitely makes you better. Everyone has their own secret formula when it comes to project management. However, there are some key elements that, if practiced, can really set you apart from the rest. Here are the<\/span> project management best practices<\/span><\/a> that\u2019ll get you started on the right foot.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"These<\/p>\n

Communicate with your team regularly<\/span><\/h2>\n

You may hear this a lot, but that\u2019s only because it is such a valuable practice to master. Weekly scheduled meetings are great and all, but your communication efforts should push past that. You should be checking in with all of your team members every single day. Ask them about their needs and concerns, their ideas, or even their weekend plans. Sparking a conversation could result in a massive moral boost, and really get the ball rolling on the project.<\/span><\/p>\n

On the professional side of things, checking in frequently means that questions can be answered quick and problems can be resolved. In order to accomplish this, you should have multiple channels of communication open.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Delegate Accordingly<\/span><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re a dedicated, hard worker, then delegation probably isn\u2019t a word that you like very much. Delegating, for some, can be hard to get used to. Don\u2019t be afraid to delegate if your plate is just a little full. It\u2019s important to not only know when to delegate, but who to delegate to. Get to know your team inside and out. Learn who is best at certain tasks and assign them accordingly. <\/span><\/p>\n

One of the best ways to delegate without relinquishing too much control is to use a shared tool to manage your team. Toggl Plan<\/a> is a great option because you see both the big picture and the granular details. You can see your projects and team members in the monthly or quarterly view, or manage them more tightly using the checklist feature to add sub-tasks for each task you assign to someone.<\/span><\/p>\n

[bctt tweet=”Do you hold kick-off #meetings before each #project? ” username=”toggl plan”]<\/p>\n

Set milestones<\/span><\/h2>\n

While we\u2019re on the topic of moral boosts, <\/span>setting milestones<\/span><\/a> in a project can really help. Milestones are basically the light at the end of the tunnel. Long and difficult projects can be broken down into smaller sequences so they become more manageable. Setting these milestones lets you and your team visualize the end and promotes an efficient workspace.<\/span><\/p>\n

At Toggl Plan, we set milestones for major feature releases and deadlines (anyone else have a GDPR deadline?). But we also mark team-building milestones, like a start date for a new employee, and \u201cGo Loco\u201d weeks, when teams work together on a new project that\u2019s unrelated to their every day tasks. Milestones like these keep everyone excited and make the work feel fresh. . <\/span><\/p>\n

Organize everything<\/span><\/h2>\n

Whether it\u2019s your timeline or weekly meetings, organization is the key to avoiding chaos. It\u2019s easy to get lost sometimes, especially when you\u2019re working on multiple projects. Make sure you have not only a clean and clear workspace, but a timeline for each project as well. Make it easy for team members to see what\u2019s going on. Staying organized keeps everyone on track because it means all the necessary documents and tools are easy to find and easy to understand. If you get organized before the project begins and stay organized throughout, everyone will have a little less stress riding on their shoulders.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hold kick-off meetings<\/span><\/h2>\n

What happens if the foundation to a house is crooked? Then the whole house will be off. In the same way, you should make sure everything is level when starting a project.<\/span> A kick-off meeting is the perfect way to accomplish that<\/span><\/a>. Hold a meeting before every project so that you know everyone is on the same page and reading from the same book. Go over all the details and plans for the direction of the project so that everyone has a roadmap. Make it clear and precise so that nobody gets confused. <\/span><\/p>\n

Keep track of everything<\/span><\/h2>\n

This is much different than organization. Keeping track of everything not only means resources, documents, and your budget, but your time as well. You\u2019ll want to reference all of this information later! Your time is valuable, so tracking it and comparing it to different projects\u2019 time can help you make better project estimates<\/a>. Tracking and documenting means that you\u2019ll never second guess the details of a previous project.<\/span><\/p>\n

Create a detailed timeline<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s not enough to simply put tasks on a Gantt chart and be done. You have to give your team the advantage! <\/span>Create a detailed timeline<\/span><\/a> by attaching resources, scheduling meetings, and using any information you think might be helpful. There\u2019s never enough detail when working on a big project. Make your timeline clear and defined from the get-go, and things will fall into place a little easier later down the road.<\/span><\/p>\n

Look for feedback<\/span><\/h2>\n

Ask your team if what you\u2019re doing is helping them to do their best work. You may not realize it, but there are some things you could be doing better. There is always room for improvement, and that\u2019s nothing to be ashamed of. Ask clear and specific questions, and you\u2019ll be more likely to get clear and specific feedback. Leave your ego at the door so people feel comfortable sharing their feedback. And once you have feedback, don\u2019t ignore it. Make the changes that will help your team work better.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hold wrap-up meetings<\/span><\/h2>\n

Celebrating your success is a big part of project management and is a great highlight for our project management best practices. Holding a wrap-up meeting lets you review the project highlights and discuss what your team can improve the next time around. Most importantly, it\u2019s sort of a party! You\u2019ve made it through all of the ups and downs of the project and came out on top, as a team. Now that\u2019s a reason to celebrate!<\/span><\/p>\n

Practice, practice, practice<\/span><\/h2>\n

Your goal should be to always look for ways you can improve and using these project management best practices will surely help you do so. Practice them every chance you get. Project management is a learning experience, so don\u2019t shy away from learning!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"These<\/p>\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

They say practice makes perfect. I don\u2019t know about perfect, but practicing definitely makes you better. 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