Clarify Time Based Language
Due dates are often not set clearly. Be specific with time based language. Specify the date and time something is due. This will reduce misunderstandings on when things are due.
Why Your Email Subject Line Matters
Use good, concise and informative email subject lines (email titles). Doing so will save people’s time and make your project team more likely to open and read your emails. A proper title allows the readers to know whether they should keep reading, and also makes searching for that email later much easier.
Should You Delete Most of Long Email Chains?
Don’t delete the history in email chains. Keep it in place so your recipients can read the full details if they need to. This will save time and reduce the possibility that people may miss out on important discussion information.
Notify Your Client of Project Delays
Delays on projects are very common. Record the reasons for all project delays. Notify your client of delays in the project schedule as soon as possible, whether the delay is the clients fault or not.
Make Project Budgets Easy to Release
Some companies make it very difficult and time consuming to release unneeded project budgets. Project budget release should be simple, quick and easy. This will allow the funding of other projects to be much easier.
Document all Changes, Variations, and Agreements
Projects are complicated. Lots of agreements and changes are constantly made, these should be managed properly.
Document all changes, variations and agreements on your projects. You should put everything in writing.
Focus Time – the Way to Get Things Done on Your Projects
Your time is important. Yet you are so busy. Distractions make this even worse. Set blocks of time for “Focus Time”. Setting these blocks of time will help you get lots more work done, leading to better outcomes for you and your projects.
Why You Need a Single Decision Maker in Client Communication
Keep good control of client communication. Ensure all important communications are between the project manager and the client project manager, especially for cost, schedule and scope decisions.
Why Your Project Needs a Project Management Plan
Write and use a good Project Management Plan. A project management plan is one of the most important project documents. Every project should have one. Even a short plan is better than no plan.
My Favourite Way to Reduce the Cost of Project Meetings
Project meetings can take a lot of time and cost a lot of money. A simple way to encourage meeting efficiency is to display the hourly cost of the meeting for all attendees to see. It is a simple way to keep attendees focused on getting things done and ending the meeting sooner.