5 Ways to Conquer a Big Project
Amanda Moreno
July 20, 2011 Under the gun with a big project looming? Regardless of your engineering field, you’ve probably spent at least a few frenzied nights amped up on coffee, trying to tackle an assignment. This time, don’t worry about flubbing a deadline or disappointing your boss and clients—just breathe, and follow these easy tips.
Set Clear, Realistic Goals. This may sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to neglect the simple task of outlining a project when you’re juggling so much at once. Carve out a solid 20 minutes to target everything you need to accomplish your goal–and most importantly–give yourself a realistic time frame. Too often we set tight deadlines to self-motivate, but more likely than not, you’ll just burn yourself out.
Tell Everyone Your Plan. Whether you’ve got a few days or a few hours to prepare, let it be known that your upcoming project is your first priority. This way, you’ll minimize interruption from coworkers and avoid overbooking yourself.
Decide How Long You Will Work. Scenario: You need to spend most of your evening finalizing a proposal. Instead of saying to yourself “I’ll work as long as I can” or “I’ll work until I’m too tired,” dedicate a solid 5-hour or 4-hour period to buckle down. You’re more productive when you’re not looking at the clock every 10 minutes or deciding whether or not you’re too tired (which will, of course, make you feel even more sluggish).
Don’t Be Ashamed to Ask for Help. Otherwise known as delegating in the great corporate jungle. If members of your team are slacking on vital aspects of your goal, give them a friendly nudge and remind them of the task at hand. There’s nothing smooth about being the dignified solo-player if you flub your deadline.
Finish Strong. If you’ve only got a few minor details to streamline before putting your project to rest, don’t procrastinate. Momentum is everything! Finish strong and reap the rewards—you deserve it.
For more tips, check out our recent webinar: Generate Better Project Results – Learn What Holds Projects Back & How to Succeed.
5 Ways to Conquer a Big Project
Under the gun with a big project looming? Regardless of your engineering field, you’ve probably spent at least a few frenzied nights amped up on coffee, trying to tackle an assignment.Don’t worry about missing a deadline or disappointing your boss or clients—just breathe, and follow these easy tips.
1.Set Clear, Realistic Goals. This may sounds like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to neglect the simple task of outlining a project when you’re juggling so much at once.A few weeks before deadline, carve out a solid 20 minutes to outline everything you need and give yourself a personal timeline.Most importantly, make sure your timeframe is realistic. Too often we set tight deadlines to self-motivate, but more likely than not, you’ll just burn yourself out.
2.Tell Everyone Your Plan. Whether you’ve got a few days or a few hours before a project is due,let coworkers and friends know your upcoming project is your first priority—you’ll minimize interruption and avoid overbooking yourself.
3.Decide How Long You Will Work. Scenerio: You know you need to spend most of your evening finalizing a project. Instead of saying to yourself “I’ll work as long as I can” or “I’ll see how far I can get before I get tired,” dedicate a solid 5-hour or 4-hour period to buckle down.Your time is more productive when you’re not looking at the clock or deciding whether or not you’re tired (which will, of course, make you feel even more sluggish).
4.Don’t Be Ashamed to Ask for Help. Otherwise known as delegating in the great corporate jungle.If your team (or employees) are slacking on vital aspects of your goal, give them a friendly nudge and remind them of the task at hand. There’s nothing smooth about being the dignified solo-player if you miss your deadline.
5.Finish Strong. If you’ve only got a few minor details to streamline before putting your project to rest, don’t procrastinate. Momentum is everything! Finish strong and reap the rewards—you deserve it.
Comments (2)
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