"The great successful men of the world have used their imagination…they think ahead and create their mental picture in all its details, filling in here, adding a little there, altering this a bit and that a bit, but steadily building - steadily building." Robert Collier
Do you have projects or tasks that take many hours or even weeks to complete? Do you also have to complete day-to-day activities as well? If so you might find yourself feeling overwhelmed or stressed just thinking about where to start and how to get everything done. It’s like there’s an elephant in the room and you’ve got no idea what to do with it.
The answer? It’s like the joke, “How do you eat an elephant?”
The answer, “In small bites.”
One way to accomplish bigger projects is to use some simple project management techniques. Using the following simple project management cycle as a guide will help you to eat your elephant.
Initiation
This is where you’ll decide what you are setting out to achieve from the project. Eating a whole elephant or any similar project is not going to be an easy feat, so it’s important to know exactly what you have to achieve from the outset. How many hours is this project or activity? Who is involved? What new skills will you need to learn? When is this activity expected to be completed by?
Planning and Resourcing
A well-planned activity or project will generally end as a successful project. You need to make sure that you have every aspect covered. There is surely going to be challenges and set backs during your project, so having a good plan will help you to avoid any potential roadblocks.
If the project or big activity is complex, consider learning how to draw up and use a Gantt Chart. A Gantt Chart is a chart that shows the tasks to be done and the relationship of each task to the others.
Implementation
To successfully execute your plan you need to stay on top of things at all times. Be aware of every aspect of your original plan and make sure it’s being followed each day. You made the plan for a reason so stick to it.
Try to block off time in your calendar or diary each day and use this time to work on your project.
Monitoring and controlling
You need to be constantly aware of any factors that could potentially risk the completion of the project and fix them as quickly as possible. Don’t panic, be smart and don’t be afraid to ask for help if there’s a problem you can’t solve yourself.
Consider setting aside 20 minutes at the end of each week to review what has already been achieved so far and what still needs to be done over the coming weeks.
Completing and finishing
The job isn’t done until the paperwork is finished. Before you can say that you have successfully completed any major project make sure all of the loose ends are completed. This can include paperwork, follow-ups with clients or reports that need to be submitted.
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