Working on Workflow

  ProjectsAtWork  

Do you tackle the most critical, high-profile elements of an initiative as early as possible or hold off until you have a better understanding of the end-game? Home improvement projects, Meryl Streep, and book writing offer insights into three common mistakes project managers make when planning workflow.

Where do you start a painting project? Or any type of project? I was refinishing some furniture recently, and found myself thinking about the three classic mistakes that people make when managing project workflow.

Mistake #1: Starting with the most visible parts first

Years ago, whenever I was doing a project I'd start with the most prominent part first. For example, when my husband and I were putting up wallpaper in our first home's foyer, I couldn't wait to get it up. So we started with the big wall immediately opposite the front. Which is why for several years the most visible part of our home had a line of crooked wallpaper right in the middle of it. We should have started in a less prominent place to build our skills before we tackled the big showy part.

When I work with clients, I advise starting projects with a few easy backstage action items first. You want to be able to get your feet wet on the less critical parts, so that you have skills and confidence before you tackle the largest most visible elements. But …

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