By having a conversation with the team, they are likely to spot a few other resources the project will need. Chances are, if you try to do it yourself, you're going to forget a couple of things that should be listed. Quick tip: Brainstorm necessary resources with your team. List every single resource you can think of, and attach it to each objective. It's anything that is limited and can be used up by a project. When people think of resources, they often think of funding, but it also refers to equipment, materials, space, and labor. If the goals are the destination, and the objectives are the engine, the resources are the gas in your tank. Now that you know what you want to achieve and how you're going to achieve it, it's time to identify what resources it will take to get you there. Offer a cash bonus or an extra vacation day, for example. These incentives will improve productivity and make your team feel appreciated. Quick tip: Create rewards for your team if they achieve objectives. Remember to attach deadlines to each objective. These deliverables are the specific actions you will take to achieve the broader goals you set earlier. For example, if your goal was to achieve a 20% increase in referrals over the next quarter, a good objective might be "contact 100 customers per week for referrals" or "launch a reward program." With goals defined, it's time to spell out what kind of objectives and deliverables your team should push for to achieve those goals. The biggest mistake you can make when setting goals is to be vague, like "increase our brand awareness." How would you know whether you've achieved this goal? Instead, set a goal that includes actual numbers, if possible, like "increase referrals by 20% by the end of the third quarter." Step 2: Lay out objectives and deliverables After all, if your goals are in conflict with a company’s overall direction, the project will be a failure in the eyes of company leadership even if it is successful by your standards. You should create these goals with the overall vision of the company in mind. Step 1: Set goalsĮvery project needs a vision - it's a waste of time to spell out the "how" if you haven't figured out the "why." Set some ambitious but achievable goals for your project these will govern every subsequent step, and will give your team motivation to execute the plan. Here are six simple steps you should take when creating a work plan. That’s why you must get it right the first time. Put another way, a work plan describes how a project is going to get done.Ī well-thought-out working plan is the difference between success and failure for a project.
This step-by-step guide will help you craft one of your own that will maximize your chances of success.Ī work plan is a document that outlines all of the steps to take over the course of a project, breaking them down into as much detail as possible and assigning individual activities to certain departments or people.Īlso called a project management plan, a work plan outline spells out all of the deliverables, tasks, milestones, funding, resources, and any other necessary information. You need a solid, thorough work plan, not just to ensure that your project succeeds, but so that it accomplishes the right goals. All the tips and work hacks in the world aren't going to help your project be successful if you don’t put in the necessary work early on. The success or failure of a project depends on what happens during the planning phase. A recent survey found that only 58% of organizations fully understand the value of project management, which is a direct reason why half of all projects fail outright. If you struggle with project management, you're not alone.