Some skills are peripheral to success. It’s nice to have them, but they don’t make much of a difference. There are other skills, however, that are absolutely essential to fulfill your potential; and you must develop them to a fairly high level, if you are to achieve all of your goals.
One of these absolutely essential skills is the ability to manage projects of various sizes. Project management is a function not just of those who build hydroelectric dams or huge skyscrapers. You organize and engage in a project each time you go grocery shopping. If you are in sales, then every prospect that you are trying to develop into a regular customer is a project.
I will share with you, in this column, a systematic process that will help you become an excellent project manager; and it’s not that difficult to learn. Your ability to multi-task entrepreneurial tasks will easily translate to the projects in rest of your life.
Goals
Every project begins by clearly defining your goals, or exactly what form they will take if you accomplished your project, perfectly.
For example, you decide to take a two-week trip to the Caribbean next winter. You begin by specifically defining an ideal Caribbean vacation: hotel, beaches, daytime and evening activities, the people and service you want to experience and, of course, your budget. Once you have that clear description in mind (or on paper), it’s easy to plan your perfect winter holiday in the sun.
List
Next, make a list of all of the actions you must take to achieve your final goal. You research the various Caribbean islands you could visit. You call more than one travel agent for information about particular packages, including airfare and hotels, so you qualify for the best prices well in advance. You plan your budget, and determine the source of those funds. You consider your business responsibilities, and how they will be completed, while you’re away, without negatively affecting your business, students and staff.
“One of these absolutely essential skills is the ability to manage projects of various sizes. If you are in sales, then every prospect that you are trying to develop into a regular customer is a project.”
Deadlines
Once you’ve determined your goal, you then set specific dates and deadlines, starting from the end of your vacation and back dating, so you have a clear timeline of your entire vacation.
Organize
Organize your list of all required actions to reach your goal. You can organize your list in one of two ways: First is sequential, where one step follows another. These are often called dependent activities. One depends on the successful completion of another. The second is parallel or concurrent actions. These are tasks that can be completed, simultaneously, separate and apart from other actions.
Select and Delegate
The core action of effective project management is selection and delegation; it is the key to your future in the entrepreneurial world. The bigger the project, the more people and specialists will be required to complete it, successfully. Your ability to select the right people, and then delegate effectively to them will determine your success or failure. A mistaken selection or a miscommunication could delay or derail the entire project, or bust your budget.Using this project-management process properly can give you the winning edge. It can enable you to kick in the afterburners for your life and career. Becoming an excellent project manager will enable you to move ahead further and faster. Although the project management steps are simple, project management skills are complex, and are vital to your success.
The cumulative results of developing project management skills will enable you to accomplish bigger tasks with greater responsibilities and greater income-with greater rewards of all kinds. Project management is a powerful key to your future.
