Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Tip #422: 7 Tips For Tackling Tough Work Projects

After displaying a commitment to your team to your manager, you may receive an opportunity to lead an extremely important project. While this may be an exciting opportunity for you, it can make or break your advancement opportunities. And after striving for such an chance for so long, the prospect of managing such a large project can feel extremely daunting and, as a result, fear can set in.

To help you combat and overcome any fears, we recommend the first step being this: You need to tell yourself that you can not only do it, but do it better than anyone else.  In addition to gaining the confidence in getting a project completed, we have listed a number of other tips to help you. 

7 Tips For Tackling A Major Work Project:

Tip #1: Get Organized - Before you begin your task, get organized. Make sure your supervisor has identified the objectives and parameters of the project. Organizing a big project can also make it feel achievable. Create a timeline and using a scale of 1-3, rate each task according to difficulty.

Tip #2: Break It Up - A big project can seem intensely intimidating. If you break it up into segments, you can tackle each piece at a time. This provides a sense of progress and accomplishment.

Tip #3: Start Immediately - Most people feel energetic and excited about their big project when they receive it. Don't waste that energy. Consider tackling the most intense chunk of your project immediately.

Tip #4: Set And Meet Deadlines - Make deadlines for each phase of your project. Outline who is responsible for tackling each task and when it is due. Be firm with yourself (and your team) about all deadlines, but if problems crop up, make sure there is room in your schedule to adjust if necessary.

Tip #5: Schedule Breaks - Don't forget to schedule breaks for yourself, especially if you plan to tackle your project aggressively. Working through lunches and ignoring basic needs like food is going to result in an immediate decrease in accuracy and performance, and can even negatively affect your health. A short, brisk walk is also an excellent way to help yourself remain focused and alert throughout the day. If you feel guilty about it, use your break times to brainstorm about your project and its progress.

Tip #6: Ask For Help If You Need It - If you need help or direction, ask your supervisor, coworkers or team for feedback or suggestions.  Not only can they offer a fresh perspective, but also feel they help contribute to the project's success. If you are truly overloaded with the amount of work the project requires, approach your supervisor immediately.   
Tip #7: Review and Evaluate Things Before You Hand In The Final Report - When your project is complete, take a look at what you've done. Were you stressed out? How could you have made the project easier? Take notes and use this as a learning experience for next time. If you have any last-minute changes, make them as reviewing your project also affords you the opportunity to correct them before the final results/reports are given to your supervisor.

Executive Summary: Large projects can seem intimidating; therefore, it is best to break each large project down into manageable tasks. Once this is done, organize your time accordingly.  Don't forget to ask others for their comments. 

Another element to remember is this: Organization and positive project management WILL help you predict problems without feeling overloaded.  

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