How can FM professionals ensure deadlines are met?

1 Define the scope and objectives

Before you start any project, make sure you have a clear and realistic understanding of the scope and objectives. What are the deliverables, requirements, and expectations of the client and other stakeholders? What are the milestones, deadlines, and indicators of success? How will you measure and report on the progress and outcomes? Having a well-defined scope and objectives will help you avoid scope creep, manage risks, and align your actions with the desired results.

2 Break down the tasks and assign roles

Once you have the scope and objectives, you need to break down the project into manageable tasks and assign roles and responsibilities to your team members. Use a work breakdown structure (WBS) or a similar tool to identify the tasks, dependencies, and resources needed for each phase of the project. Then, assign the tasks to the most suitable team members, based on their skills, availability, and preferences. Make sure everyone knows what they need to do, when they need to do it, and how they need to do it.

4 Communicate and collaborate

Communication and collaboration are essential for meeting deadlines, as they ensure that everyone is on the same page, aware of the issues, and working towards the same goals. You should communicate clearly and frequently with your team members, clients, and other stakeholders, using the most appropriate channels and formats. You should also encourage feedback, suggestions, and questions, and address any concerns or problems promptly. Moreover, you should foster a collaborative culture among your team members, where they support each other, share information, and solve issues together.

5 Evaluate and improve

Finally, you should evaluate and improve your processes and practices to meet deadlines more effectively and efficiently. You should collect and analyze data on the project performance, such as the time, cost, quality, and customer satisfaction. You should also solicit feedback from your team members, clients, and other stakeholders on the strengths and weaknesses of your project management. Based on the findings, you should identify the areas for improvement and implement the necessary changes or actions to enhance your future projects.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?