Andy KaufmanHost| People and Projects PodcastLake Zurich, Il, United States
Our profession has a set of practices that help keep our projects on track. But how do you keep yourself on track? How do you keep yourself from getting distracted by the trivial, allowing you to focus on the most important priorities most of the time?
Specific strategies, tools, and techniques would be great (even if they seem minor--if something helps you, it's likely to help some colleagues here as well). Thank you! Saving Changes...
Trello is an online tool that help me - especially that i have like 4 jobs in one so i create a board for every major area of our operation (marketing, business development, operations ...) and one board for each project
However, this is a like a task management tool and can be used with the team. Saving Changes...
Rebecca BraglioCommunity Engagement Specialist II| Project Management InstituteNewtown Square, Pa, United States
Looking forward to reading responses...I'm very susceptible to getting off track! Saving Changes...
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten AssociatesNew Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
I would divide my answer into two categories:
Keeping my day on track: I use the calenders and an excel sheet that I developed myself for my own follow up on my day to day tasks and it is working great for me.
Keeping my hours on track: We use an application called Harvest, you can record on the spot how many hours you spent / project / day and if you are not sure how much time you will spend on a certain activity, you can put a timer when you start. Great Program. Saving Changes...
saurabh mahajanPMP, ITIL, PRINCE2| vodafonePune, Maharashtra, India
I use simple built in sticky note on windows desktop.
This way every morning i know pending tasks and planned tasks. For meeting schedule outlook is very handy. For scheduling i use MS project planner. Saving Changes...
Markus KopkoAI Enabler for Project & Program Mgmt | Founder PMotion.ai / The PM
AI Coach| PMotion.aiHamburg, Hamburg, Germany
I am using the "Eisenhower -Method" and have utilized my MS Outlook to do so; works great for me.
Sergio Luis ConteHelping to create solutions for everyone| Worldwide based OrganizationsBuenos Aires, Argentina
What is missing inside the project management field (sorry if there is something like this and I do not know) is the schema you can find in CMU SEI CMMi (Capability Maturity Model). To apply it you can follow a path named PCMM (People CMM) that will help you to check if you follow the model in your daily life and then you can understand if you are ready to follow the model at enterprise wide. Saving Changes...
m grayIndependent Professional PM| ND_I LimitedCalgary, Alberta, Canada
For me it's probably the most basic time management technique of them all. I make a to-do lists!
I will have a look at some of the other tools discussed here though in case any of them are better! Saving Changes...
Anonymous
I use an online to do list (toodledo) as a repository of all the tasks and relative notes.
Every day I select only the tasks that I must do in that particular day and I write down my daily to do list. If there are too many tasks I use the same approach Markus indicated to prioritize them. Then I highlight the two more important tasks (no more) that I must do in that day and I don't switch to other tasks until I have not completed them.
Other techniques that working good for me are:
- Assigning a box time to perform particular tasks (for example task A must be performed from 9 o'clock to 10 o'clock and so on)
- Pomodoro techniques to stay focused
- Use an activity log app with timers and alarms to track hours spent
- Add in my to do list the principles on what basing my day to complete the most important tasks (for example stay focused, be determined, don't procrastinate,...)
...
1 reply by Paolo Cornali
Feb 18, 2016 7:11 AM
Paolo Cornali
...
This post is mine. Sorry again but it is the second time that is posted as anonymous and I don't understand why. I'm sure that I didn't flag "Post Anonymously". Is happened also to others or am I wrong something?
Saving Changes...
Paolo CornaliProject Manager| HTA srlBrescia, Lombardia, Italy
This post is mine. Sorry again but it is the second time that is posted as anonymous and I don't understand why. I'm sure that I didn't flag "Post Anonymously". Is happened also to others or am I wrong something? Saving Changes...
Global Chapter Governance Specialist II| Project Management InstituteNewtown Square, Pa, United States
I prepare each evening before I leave the office for the next morning - Make a "To Do" list, Check my calendar (assuming that I have a few meetings) and be sure to schedule about 30 - 45 minutes for the matters that may require my immediate attention in the morning. If no urgent matters, this is open time to catch up on my "To Do" list or other tasks.
From there, I use the afternoon (2 hours) to complete my "To Do" list and then I return to email or other tasks (1.5 hours) and most importantly, I use the last 30 minutes of my day to prepare for the next day.
I also remind myself not to worry about the things that I didn't get completed today as it will only stress me out which leaves very little time for reflection. Reflection is critical to ensure you don't burn out.
"Today was the Tomorrow you worried about Yesterday." - Dale Carnegie Saving Changes...
Community Champion
PMI Team Member
