How do you cope with the stress and uncertainty of language services project management?

In language services project management, clarity is your ally amidst stress and uncertainty. Define a clear scope outlining project boundaries, deliverables, and expectations. Establishing concrete goals provides a roadmap, fostering a sense of direction and control. Break down larger projects into manageable tasks, allowing for a step-by-step approach. Regularly communicate with stakeholders to align expectations and ensure mutual understanding. This clarity helps manage uncertainties by providing a structured framework, making it easier to adapt to unforeseen challenges. A well-defined scope and goals act as stabilizing anchors, guiding your team through the dynamic landscape of language services.

Uff, managing language service projects... I totally get it. Stress? It's part of the game. But here's a trick I've learned: clarity is king. Smart framework as a savior. For example, we worked on a project in which we localized the existing content for a new feature launch. We could have settled for some vague “let’s do it as soon as possible,” but we instead used some straight talk: “This needs to be localized in five languages with LQA score of 97% and above and ready for go-live in two weeks.” It set Therefore, when in doubt, be precise. It helps in setting the right expectations and relieves your anxiety. Trust me, it works!

é fundamental alinhar com a empresa para qual estamos prestando o servi?o linguístico, no meu caso programa de idiomas corporativo, quanto aos objetivos comuns e sempre manter as decis?es registradas com o aval de todos. Futuramente, se houver algo que n?o tenha ido como planejado, podemos revisitar as anota??es e entender o que foi feito fora do escopo inicial. é muito comum esse tipo de problema quando há mudan?a de gest?o. O mais importante é realmente dialogar e realinhar o que for necessário.

In my job I use an LSP model and I believe that before you reach out to them, you need to understand your stakeholder needs, make a plan, gather materials, glossaries and find SMEs. You can send a heads-up to allow them time to select linguists. Only when you have a clear plan you can reach out. Instead of imposing deadlines & quality scores, communicate needs & urgency and offer support. Set quality standards for all projects to avoid repetitive clarifications. I'd set a kick off meeting "WE need to translate 1000 words on[subject] EN to JA. Requested ETA: [date]. Here are: the training materials, glossaries, styleguide, feedback channel, project plan. Please review, provide your best ETA and we'll check in on [date].

Cope with stress and uncertainty in language services project management by setting realistic expectations, practicing effective communication, maintaining flexibility, and proactively addressing challenges to ensure a smoother project flow and overall well-being.

Effective project management relies on the strategic selection of tools and methods. Embrace technology and methodologies that enhance efficiency, communication, and collaboration within your team. Utilize project management software, communication platforms, and language technology tools tailored to your specific needs. Regularly reassess and update your toolkit to incorporate advancements and address emerging challenges. This proactive approach equips you to navigate uncertainties with confidence. By strategically choosing tools and methods that align with your project's requirements, you not only streamline processes but also fortify your ability to manage stress and ambiguity in the dynamic field of language services.

The simpler the better aye ! Je n'ai pas de machines de guerre ^^' Je cherche l'indépendance et la liberté ! → j'ai ma propre plateforme (codée à la main) Elearning → j'ai ma propre billetterie en ligne → mon CRM = Google Sheet Basta. Rien de plus.

Com rela??o a ferramentas e plataformas de ensino para idiomas no meio corporativo, há milhares de op??es que podem fazer com que o trabalho se torne mais dinamico é fácil de escalar. Porém, tenho visto cada vez mais a busca de solu??es personalizadas, tendo em vista que muitas empresas que prestam servi?os linguísticos delegam às plataformas o processo de aprendizado, perdendo oportunidades de entender mais a fundo as necessidades específicas dos clientes. Quando o servi?o é personalizado, há mais flexibilidade e maior índice de satisfa??o.

Si cela est en effet indispensable, je pense qu'il y a souvent un biais dans notre secteur concernant ces sujets. En effet, il ne faut pas perdre de vue que le choix de l'outil doit être guidé par ses fonctionnalités, sa flexibilité et sa pertinence par rapport aux attentes du client. Les TMS ne sont par exemple pas indispensables sur tous les projets et la tendance à chercher la réponse à tous les problèmes dans l'utilisation de nouveaux outils peut parfois mener à la catastrophe. Il y a des cas où un bon vieux tableur Excel bien organisé fera tout à fait l'affaire !

In an ideal world (or in a small agency) a team of the same translator + editor who worked together for years can bring the PM peace of mind.

Quanto à gest?o de programas de idiomas nas empresas, é fundamental ter uma equipe dedicada. O que funciona bem na minha empresa é ter um corpo pedagógico para tomar contas dos programas de ensino e atendimento aos alunos, um administrativo para cuidar de agendamentos e demandas de relatórios por parte dos gestores e um corpo financeiro para lidar com a burocracia dos pagamentos. é a estrutura mínima para uma boa gest?o do programa de idiomas corporativo.

In the ideal case, the process involves at least four people: a project manager, a translator, a proofreader, and a linguist who fulfills the role of Final Eye. This way, everything is double-checked, and the client gets the most polished version possible.

Sors de ta zone de confort mais reste dans ta zone de génie ! Zone de Génie = Périmètre dans lequel tu gères, c'est ton avantage absolu ! (Smith et Ricardo aye!) Ce qui gravite autour, connais le puis délègue le à des personnes de confiance. Par exemple : → Mon expertise c'est l'apprentissage des langues → Mon métier c'est la gestion d'entreprise et la formation → Je ne suis pas dev, je délègue → Je ne suis pas comptable, je délègue → Je ne suis pas vendeur, je délègue

Workflow systematization is setting up and designing processes in order to boost efficiency, eliminate errors, and simplify jobs. In project management, this implies breaking complex activities down into concise, repeatable stages that team members can consistently follow and replicate. First, define the important stages of the workflow, ranging from project reception to final delivery. Next, delegate tasks and responsibilities at each level to ensure responsibility. Finally, use project management software like Trello and Matecat to measure progress, set deadlines, and manage resources.

A Language Service Provider (LSP) that doesn't communicate well is an oxymoron. My team and I use Google Chat Spaces or Direct messages to communicate with each other while collaborating across different time zones. I create specific Google "Spaces" (groups) for each project or task in order to keep everything organized. I also use ZOOM to conduct trainings, meetings, and record tutorials as needed for new staff in order to save time and to maintain consistency.

Communication is key! It's essential to have both project management and communication tools working in sync. At LEXIGO, we believe in the power of technology to manage workflow and have our own technology to optimise the process. If you don't have that luxury, employing a translation management system (TMS) can automate routine tasks, track progress, and ensure consistency in translations, centralising communication, while serving as a single source of truth. Effective communication and collaboration allows for: - Fostering transparency and continuous feedback to reduce uncertainty. - Reviewing of project milestones and adaptation of workflows to address challenges upfront/proactively.

Taking time to communicate positively and show appreciation to your translators, editors, QA and DTP engineers can work miracles for a PM. Happy employees and vendors will often go an extra mile.

A comunica??o interna é primordial. O professores precisam estar a par das demandas e necessidades específicas das empresas e dos alunos dos programas de idiomas. Uma comunica??o clara e objetivas é mandatória e registrar todas as decis?es pode evitar problemas de falhas na comunica??o.

In addition to communication methods, having a single source of truth is always good: for example, a glossary hosted in the cloud. And, of course, a CAT tool is also in the cloud, so everyone involved can see the progress.

At LEXIGO, we combine tech with project management methods. For example, AI-powered analytics give real-time insights into a project's performance allowing for informed decision-making. Also: 1. Adopt a proactive risk management approach which involves identifying potential risks early with contingencies in place 2. Regular reviews with stakeholders keeps all informed and provides opportunities to adjust 3. Integrating your project management tool with other platforms can create a cohesive centralised environment for monitoring and controlling 4. Investing in team training and development in best practices and tools can improve their ability to leverage monitoring and controlling Combined, they drive project success even further!

Suivre sa perf c'est sain et normal ! Si tu le fais pas, tu navigues à l'aveugle. J'utilise Obsidian comme logiciel pour faire des maps interactives d'objectifs. C'est ma petite révolution haha

When the project is over, before hitting the SEND button, re-read all the client's requirements and make sure you didn't miss anything.

Esse é o maior desafio na gest?o de programas de idiomas corporativo. é preciso estar sempre atento à qualidade das aulas, assistindo às aulas e realizando pesquisas com os colaboradores e gestores. Após o feedback, é necessário fazer as altera??es necessárias, buscando a satisfa??o do cliente, afinal é assim que estendemos o tempo de trabalho.

It's a good idea to always ask the client for feedback. I am always grateful for any bad feedback, because it helps to improve.

The most successful projects I delivered always involved client feedback on both quality . While performing quality assurance on content is crucial, true success is ensuring client satisfaction. Following styleguides, glossaries, using in-country specialized linguists and achieve a 99 quality score does not guarantee client satisfaction. Always involve internal SMEs in your project plan, ask feedback, apply relevant changes, and extract learnings for future projects or updates to style guides/glossaries. I find direct meetings more effective than surveys for feedback and help build a stronger relationship. Retros are particularly beneficial for complex projects.

Other ways of learning and improving based on the results of your project, are asking for text or video reviews of your service, having one-on-one conversations with the end users, and set specific systems to continually ask for feedback and consider it for future updates of the service. Permanent improvement of your language services can sound daunting and time-consuming, but it's a sure way of bringing about the highest satisfaction for your clients and to increase your sense of professional accomplishment (knowing you're doing specific things to offer something better to your users or your audience).

Sometimes the biggest problem I see in this industry is - no feedback means no issues. Due to the nature of translations, feedback whether good or bad is a requirement for the effective planning of: - future projects - GAP analysis to identify efficiency gains or losses - process Working closely with clients, its very important to open the room to feedback from the start of a business relationship. It's very hard to change something someone else doesn't like without context.