A To-Do List for Project Management
Project management means dealing with a lot of tasks and a lot of people in a concentrated period of time. Get into the habit of creating a usable to-do list to keep on track to reaching your daily goals and get through all of the tasks that need to be completed.
The main thing is to create a to-do list that gets used. How many times have you started a to-do list only to leave it laying on your desk incomplete and never to look at it again, at least not until you find it buried under the 20 other to-do lists you never finished? To-do lists are a project managers friend and here are a few tips for making the most of yours.
1. Create your list BEFORE your day gets started. You can do this at the end of the previous day or first thing each day, but don’t start on anything until you’ve created your list.
2. Prioritize items on your list. Sometimes putting tasks in order of importance isn’t an easy task, so first just jot down everything you know you need to do and then go back over and number each item, starting with 1, in order of priority.
3. Follow your list in order. Once you have your list prioritized don’t devate from that list by jumping around to things further down the list until the tasks above are complete.
4. Allow for changes. Don’t get down on yourself if something pops up in your day that you have to incorporate into your list. Simply, add it, do it and then keep moving down your original list.
5. Mark items complete. By checking off items on your list as you complete them you will see yourself making progress and at the end of the day you will feel a sense of accomplishment. Even if you don’t complete everything on your list, it’s ok you can still look back and say “I DID get this done today!”
6. Be reasonable. You know there are only so many hours in a day, so don’t overload your list with tasks that you know good and well will take more time than you have available.
7. Be as detailed as possible. Don’t overload your list, but also don’t forget the smaller tasks throughout the day that will take time away from other bigger duties.
8. Keep your to-list in sight at all times. By keeping your list out from under papers, books, etc. it will be a reminder that you have a plan and that plan is going to help you move forward with your business.
9. Throw it away at the end of the day. At the end of each day, transfer any unfinished tasks to the next day’s to-do list and throw the current day’s list in the garbage can. Seeing multiple incomplete to-do lists lying around all the time is not good on your self-esteem, so say sayonara at the end of everyday.
A to-do list is one thing no project manager should start their day without. Planning is crucial to reaching your project goals and the better prepared you are for each day, the more you’ll accomplish. You’ll also give yourself a well deserved boost each time you can cross off something on your to-do list.
Tags: goals