Have you ever had this experience? You start a project and then get sort of lost in the middle of it. You might forget what your final vision was or have trouble articulating to others how they can best help you. If that sounds familiar to you, just know that you are not alone!
There’s a reason project managers are so in demand these days. There’s so much value in the work they do! Keeping a project on track and making sure everything (and everyone) is working toward the same goal is key if you want to work efficiently.
However, if you’re not in a position to hire a project manager, even on a freelance basis, it’s not impossible to do it yourself. You just need a good project schedule! This can help you ensure all aspects of your project are planned and executed, on time and on budget, and I’m going to show you how to create one in just six simple steps.
Step #1 – Write Down all the Tasks
The first step of any big project is what I like to call a brain dump. This is just the act of getting all of the ideas out of your head and onto a piece of paper or a Word document.
Don’t spend too much time putting things in order or assigning tasks to team members just yet. This step is just about getting everything down. Even if you aren’t 100% sold on an idea, write it down anyway.
Step #2 – Put the Tasks in Order
Now it’s time to start curating the task list. Here’s where you can start to create a flow chart where you will map out which tasks come first, which come second, and so on. Cut out any unnecessary tasks or add in anything you might have left out in step one.
Write team member’s names next to tasks you plan to delegate. If you need additional resources or people to finish a task, make a note so you can clearly see what you’ll have to do in advance to prepare.
Step #3 – Add Phases and Milestones
Now that you have the tasks in order and you can clearly see all of the work that needs to be done to complete the project, it’s a good idea to group these tasks by phase and/or milestone. This is a particular point that marks a significant moment on the project schedule.
Having milestones in place is valuable because it helps you easily determine if you’re still on track or if you need to bring in additional team members or resources to make up any lost time.
Step #4 – Add Start and End Dates
Just like milestones, start and end dates are important to make sure your project stays on track, especially if you find that you are often interrupted by other tasks, or if you plan to have multiple people helping with the project.
Establishing these expectations early will make it much easier to stay the course, even if unexpected things come up. Think about it… it would be pretty difficult to track or manage a task if it doesn’t have an end date.
Step #5 – Assign Resources
What resources are going to be needed during each task or phase of the project? Will you need additional people to help you? Will you need to purchase software or programs?
Write down everything you will need so that you can clearly see how much of an expense there will be and so you can organize your plan to get these resources by the time you need them.
Step #6 – Review and Update on a Regular Basis
Your project schedule isn’t set in stone once you reach the last step. It will change as the project evolves. Set aside some time weekly to review it carefully to make sure you didn’t miss any important steps and that you’re still on track with your due dates.
This is also a great time to make sure your vision hasn’t shifted from your original plan. If you find that you have shifted slightly, that’s okay! Decide if the new plan is the direction you really want to pursue, and if so, make the necessary adjustments and notify everyone involved.
Once you incorporate the steps listed above, I know you’ll be able to go from idea to action to completed project in no time! Long gone will be the days of missed project deadlines or worse, abandoned projects. If you need help getting started, I have a free Project Schedule Template you can download and use; just click here and fill out the form to grab your copy!