Are you a planner?
Do you map everything out before you begin a project?
Do you use to do or check lists?
If you answered yes to these questions, you probably don’t need to read any further. If you answered no, then I want to share with you an easy way to create a plan for any project with some very simple tools.
First, depending on how detailed the project is – set your environment. Try to remove any distractions for this process. You want to make sure you can get all aspects of the project covered.
Here are the supplies you’ll need:
- 2 different color post its
- Black Sharpie, regular tip
- Blank wall or similar type area, a white board would also work
Use one color Post It and use the Sharpie to indicate the day of the week, put them up on the wall in order.
Then use the other color for every task that needs to happen for the project.
Once you have identified all the tasks and what order they go in then you add the dates.
This method can work for almost any project you need to complete.
One additional note: if you have multiple people responsible for different tasks within the project you can use a different colored Post It to represent each of the people involved.
For those of you who prefer a more electronic version this can be done very simply on a Word document or Powerpoint by either using the folded corner shape and text boxes or SmartArt process templates.
Creating a plan is crucial to a flawless execution of any project. I encourage you to find a method that works for you and use it often to build the habit of needing a plan for all your projects. This will give you peace of mind and give everyone clear understanding of what responsibilities and deadlines are.
Happy Planning!