Subscribe for updates from our blog so you don’t miss out:
Do a Google search for 'project management tips' and you get 1 billion results! So why did we feel the need to add yet another one? Well, because one of the reasons there is so much content on the topic is because it is so important.
Whether your job description includes it or not, the majority of us find our roles include project management in some shape or form. And mastering the art of effective project management is a skill set that will always be in demand.
At Roll we're a bunch of developers, designers, strategists, hustlers, and doers and several of us are, or have been, working multiple jobs and projects at the same time. Over the years we've learnt a lot about how to ensure project management success. So we thought we'd share our top project management tips.
- Scope. Work with your clients and/or team to scope the project in great detail before you get started. Make sure you have clear objectives and measures of success clarified and agreed up front before commencing the project.
- Develop a project plan. Map out the tasks, timing, milestones, etc. Get buy in from your client and team and refer back to it regularly to make sure you're on track.
- Appoint a project leader. Projects are always teamwork. But there should be one person who is ultimately responsible for pulling it all together and leading the team.
- Build your team. Think carefully about who you want and need on the team. Who has the skills and experience needed AND has capacity to work on this project? Be open to the possibility that you might not have all the skills needed on the team yet – it's always better to know this early.
- Clarify their roles, responsibilities & expectations. Make sure everyone on the team (including the client) knows what their role is and what they are expected to do to contribute to the project.
- Clarify timelines – be realistic. Once everyone knows what they are expected to do make sure they also know by when. Don't be afraid to discuss and set realistic expectations on time frames with your clients.
- Agree on communication processes. Communication is often the biggest project management challenge. Make sure you have agreed on clear communication processes with your team and client(s). Be specific about how often you will update the client, how the team communicates and by what channels (ie slack), what needs to be communicated and when, etc.
- Schedule regular WIP meetings. These remain critical to check in with team members and enable discussion to keep the project progressing. Create (and stick to!) a meeting agenda to detail discussion points, appoint someone to take notes, ensure outcomes and next steps are captured and shared in a contact report to keep everyone clear on required tasks. These can be really useful reference for team members who may not have been able to attend and help avoid misunderstandings occurring on project elements.
- Use a project management tool like ROLL, see more about what we can offer to help streamline your business and projects.