Does it sometimes feel that there is just isn’t enough time in the day for everything that you need to do? If you are an hour or two short every day then this will add up to a huge amount over the course of a long project.
In fact, some research suggests that in an 8 hour working day most people only work for around 3 hours. So, could using better time Management Tips help you and your PRINCE2 project team to work more smartly from now on?
Be Organised
Being well-organised is vital on any piece of work. This becomes even more of a pressing concern on a big, complex project with a lot of different parts to it. So, you will want to make sure that you know exactly what is going on at all times.
Being organized can mean knowing when to leave for a meeting, when to check on the team members and when to go home. You won’t be left guessing about what to do next or how urgent it is.
This approach will also give you a greater sense of calmness, as you will feel as though you are far more in control of your projects in this way.
Make a To-do List Each Day
Do you tend to write out to-do lists to stick on your desk or PC screen? If you don’t then you could be missing out on the benefits it gives you in terms of knowing how to manage your time. You are unlikely to be taken by surprise by something urgent after having spent too long on less urgent matters.
Having a structured approach to the day ahead can help you to settle into a good working routine early on in the morning. Some project managers find that the end of the working day is the best time to write a list for the following day.
Of course, there are more modern ways of doing this now than those old-fashioned post-it notes. You might decide to use a computer program or a mobile app to make your to-do list instead. The main goal remains the same, though, as you need to organise your tasks in the order that suits you best.
Set Tough but Realistic Deadlines
Another way that people waste time is by setting Deadlines that are too loose or flexible. This often means that you end up constantly shifting them and delaying something that could have been done a lot more quickly if you had been under just a little bit more time pressure from the start.
There is a lot to take into account when creating your project’s milestones. What outside factors could affect them? How do the different milestones fit together? How disastrous would missing one of them be?
You don’t want to risk setting deadlines that are too tight. However, it is good to get into the habit of setting tough deadlines that help you to focus your mind and work towards the target with a high level of intensity.
Use the Skills in Your Team
It is important to build up your own skills, as well as those of your team members. You will want to take your PRINCE2 training courses while giving your business analysts the chance to learn valuable new skills too.
However, when it comes to the crunch you might find that there are times for focussing on their existing skills to get certain tasks done. In essence, you need to know when the best idea is to just let people stick to what they are most comfortable with.
If you do this then the time for extra training will come along later, when there is more time to concentrate on this aspect.
