How to excel at managing any project (including during COVID-19)

Hello. I'm Bec Sands, and I help you pivot to a career or business you love.

One of the most recent topics that’s come up in working with my clients is supporting them in building confidence around their project management skills, helping them to lead, effectively communicate, and excel at delivering projects. This is something I have spent more than 12 years doing in corporate communications and also in my freelance consulting business, with clients relying on me to manage and deliver projects that are often complex.

So, I’d love to support you in this space. No matter what type of role you’re in, or whether you’re in business and delivering a project for your clients, these steps will help.

My five-step plan for effective project management

1.      Create your project strategy and recommendations

This is where your experience and expertise comes in, and where you can step up and lead the project.

One of the biggest differences between an employee and a manager is initiative, and it’s the same with freelance consulting. The best consultants take initiative and provide the client with a recommended approach to the project to achieve the desired objectives.

Instead of waiting for direction from your manager or client, instead, can you have a think about it and take ownership?

Write down well thought-out recommendations for the project so that you can take it to your client or manager as a suggested approach. This includes clarifying what the objectives are for the project, as this will inform the approach; then defining the strategy, which is essentially defining what you WILL do as opposed to what you won’t; then clearly lay out the tactics (steps) that will be implemented in order to complete the project effectively.

2.      Develop your rationale

Make sure that you have thought of different outcomes, as well as things that may go wrong, and that you have a clear rationale as to why you have suggested this strategy and approach.

For example, once you’ve thought of various different possible outcomes, define how the approach that you are recommending is the least risky, or provides the highest probability of a good outcome.

If your strategy is well thought out, and there is sound logic behind your rationale, you will be perceived as a thoughtful and diligent project manager.

3.      Stress test it

Once you have your strategy recommendation and your rationale, stress test it with your manager or team.

Run your thinking past them so that they can provide input and further suggestions before you finalise your project strategy.

This is where it’s useful to get different types of thinking on board, and be open to other ideas, thoughts and suggestions.

This is also an opportunity to receive any objections or questions before you finalise the strategy and recommendations, and it will help to anticipate any future problems before they arise.

Once you’ve stress tested your project strategy, you can finalise and get it approved before starting on the implementation phase.

4.      Implement and communicate

Once you’re in implementation phase, make sure that you have a regular process in place to see how the project is tracking and to communicate this.

A common way to measure projects is the traffic light system – whereby you have a spreadsheet or project management system with tasks, and they have a green highlight for on track; an orange highlight where there’s a hold up; or a red highlight if something has gone wrong or is unable to be continued.

On an agreed regular basis, such as weekly, provide updates on the project using this system to your client, manager and team – including suggestions and resolutions for progressing despite difficulties.

5.      Analyse and report on results for future improvements

Once the project is completed, now you can analyse and report on results, including what went well, what didn’t go so well, and your suggestions for how things could be improved in future.

There are always learnings – don’t take this process personally. As a project manager, it’s your role to be as objective as possible and lead with clarity and objectivity.

Be as factual during this process as possible, and open to additional suggestions and ways of thinking. This will help to position you as a confident thought leader and effective project manager.

Thanks so much for watching, and make sure you sign up for my weekly emails at becsands.com for more inspiration and resources on your next career pivot.