The mistakes to avoid in order to complete your project from start to finish.
10 mistakes to avoid to improve productivity. © Prostock-studio – stock.abobe.com
It is rare for a project to encounter no problem between its launch and its completion. The concerns encountered can be related to unforeseen events, but they can also be due to project management errors. Whether they are experienced or beginners, the members of a project can have bad reflexes that interfere with its smooth running. Here are 10 mistakes to avoid in your projects.
1. A poor definition of roles and responsibilities
When launching a project, it is important that everyone clearly understands their role and responsibilities. If the roles are not clear enough, and the exact expectations are not understood, the team may be on the wrong track. In most organizations, it’s up to the project manager to make sure everyone understands what is expected of them. Project stakeholders should also be able to identify its objectives.
2. A team spirit not sufficiently maintained
Team spirit is a determining factor for the success of a project. Indeed, a team that knows and appreciates each other will have a higher probability of being productive. There are simple ways to create some links, such as organizing informal meetings with future members beforehand, or even carrying out workshops to get to know each other better.
3. No risk management
It is often said that “risk 0 does not exist” , and this sentence is particularly true in the case of a project. Risk management must be implemented throughout the project, because when it evolves, the risks also evolve. Risk management improves communication, decision-making and anticipation. As Murphy’s Law states, “whatever is likely to go wrong will go wrong,” so you have to anticipate.
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4. Perfectionism, Procrastination and Paralysis
The 3Ps of non-productivity are among the pitfalls to avoid during a project. Perfectionism starts with a good intention, but you have to keep in mind that the best is the enemy of the good. Pareto’s law also specifies that “80% of results are obtained by only 20% of the work” , so don’t waste too much time on the details, and concentrate on the most important 20%!
Conversely, procrastinating is obviously counterproductive, since it amounts to spending more time thinking about the task, rather than completing it. To remedy this, when you are a perfectionist or procrastinate, take the time to think about the consequences of your actions, whether in time or money.
Learn more about the 3Ps of non-productivity
5. Not planning or prioritizing the tasks to be done
Be careful not to jump into the production of the project too quickly! This is a very common mistake, and in a rush, many people forget to take the time to settle down and plan, before they dive into the realization. If you forget this planning step, you risk finding yourself in a dead end that you had not considered, in the middle of the project, or spending time on tasks with low added value. Setting up a calendar or all of the month in order of priorities, based on deadline constraints, helps prevent late completion, and helps you determine the time and resources needed.
6. Poor communication between members
Many projects have communication problems. Poor communication can be explained by various causes such as: personalities that are difficult to match within the team, an unsuitable work environment, faulty communication tools … And the consequences are just as numerous: incomprehension, disappointment, stress, work precipitate…
For all these reasons, it is important to take good care of your communication, and to check regularly that the entire team is participating in the discussions. It is both a group responsibility, but also an individual responsibility: everyone must ensure that information circulates, that exchanges are courteous and that the words of each member are listened to, heard and respected.
7. Use tools that hinder productivity
There are a large number of tools, software and methods for project management, as the needs vary depending on the type or size of projects. The team must discuss to determine the tools to use for the project. They must be adapted to avoid wasting time and / or money. Some tools are real gas machines that could reduce the efficiency of your projects!
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8. A lack of monitoring of the progress of the project
Setting up a method and planning tasks is good, monitoring the smooth running of the project is better. The fact that the project does not go according to the plan imagined beforehand is not necessarily a mistake, because it can show that the team knows how to adapt to unforeseen events or observations quickly. But if the team does not follow the planned plan, they must do so in conscience. It is therefore necessary to ensure regularly that the expected course is carried out and to justify any deviations.
9. Do not anticipate the inevitable delay of the project
According to Hofstadter’s Law, “things are taking longer than expected, even taking into account Hofstadter’s Law” , and this is why it is important to anticipate potential delays. It is preferable to allow extra time to deal with any delay, even if it means finishing ahead of schedule, rather than not anticipating, and being late because of an unforeseen event.
10. Forgetting the goals of the project or team
When a project is launched, many teams focus only on the “what” but neglect the “why”. The ideal is to succeed in always keeping in mind why you are doing this work, what the end goal is. It is also a way to maintain a team spirit, because everyone knows the reasons for the work done, and to increase the meaning that each member can find in it.
