In a perfect world, my train would come on time and my coffee would be freshly brewed and on my desk in the morning. But, it’s not a perfect world and things don’t always go as smooth as you plan.

As a Project Manager, I am frequently asked, “how do you stay so organized?” I explain that it’s an essential skill to have for my job and has become a natural instinct. When I tackle a new job, I immediately look ahead in order to predict any upcoming challenges. Here are four tactics I have found that help streamline the project process:

Status Calls Are Key

Status calls can be very beneficial if they are productive. It is time set aside to strictly focus on the project and the task at hand. All parties should be focused and well-prepared. If possible, requests should be grouped together and/or bulleted so that nothing is forgotten. It is also important to have the right people at the meeting in order to accomplish necessary goals.

Ensure Successful Communication

There should be clear communication amongst all parties involved with the project. Meetings should be scheduled when everyone is available and expectations and goals should be well understood. It also helps if there is one point of contact for each party.

Keep Track of Status Reports

Status reports are important because they track the progress of the project. As a project manager, I try to keep my status reports detailed and very thorough. It can be especially crucial, for a fast-paced project, to follow up on things more frequently.  

Follow Up, Follow Through

A project is normally broken up into multiple tasks. The tasks all lead to the ending result. When requests are made and tasks are assigned or scheduled, anyone involved should either follow through with the task or follow up on the individual performing the task. It should never be put off until the last minute. Even the slightest delay could affect the progression of the project.

In Conclusion…

When I manage a project from start to finish I want to ensure it is executed efficiently and promptly. These best practices help streamline the process so that the project is not only executed, but the project team thrives while doing it.

Being prepared for every contingency is one way I’ve found to effectively manage projects. When the process goes smoothly, I find that my relationships with people become stronger, which is what I find to be very rewarding.