You're a consultant who wants to improve your project management. How can you do it?

This is an area I struggled with when starting my consulting career, balancing 4-6 projects at one really required organization. I was originally trained to utilize Google docs, while fantastic, I researched other platforms and found 'Notion'. I keep organized with the various free templates available and edit it to what fits me best-I also find free templates online from others in the same field. At the end of the day, finding what works for you takes experimentation and exploration. I do suggest, Notion or Google Docs, having a simple location to organize your documents goes a far way and streamlines productivity in your everyday.

I have been a retail, eCommerce and technology consultant for 25 years. Here are some tips: 1. Use a project dashboard and workplan that is sharable with your internal team and client. 2. Check your work every week agianst the SOW. Where do you stand on scope, methodologies, deliverables, timeline and budget. 3. Ensure that you are constantly taking feedback from your client and ensure they contribute to all aspects of the engagement. It's a partnership. 4. Software/tools are your friend. Keep to 2-3 at most. 5. Be patient, the longer you are in the business the more you will grow and say to yourself "I can't believe that's what I was doing 2-5-10 years ago.

To start with, 1. Get reference from similar successful projects in the past. It will help to identify and define problem points...!! 2. Give more trust to your team... Your team itself, will deal with the majority of the problems...!!

1. En tiempos de incertidumbre como en los actuales, los proyectos de envergadura se detienen, bien sea por falta de presupuestos, escasea la mano de obra calificada, y en especial, no se consiguen profesionales especializados, como lo que sucede en Venezuela. Igualmente, los expertos recomiendan “aprender a usar la matriz de Riesgos”, la cual comprende: 1.-Identificar los riesgos del proyecto. Necesitarás una lista de riesgos potenciales para hacer uso de tu matriz de riesgos. ... 2. Determinar la gravedad de los riesgos. ... 3. Identificar la probabilidad de que los riesgos ocurran. 4. Calcular el impacto de los riesgos. ... 5. Prioriza los riesgos y actúa en consecuencia. Es decir, que todo dise?o de proyectos requiere planificación.

Having spent ten years being part of various transformations, in numerous organisations, bearing in mind they will all have their approaches, tools and templates - I would say that utilising the concept/idea/discovery phase is key to defining and agreeing on the scope of any project. Activities should include: 1. Write the problem statement down. 2. What does 'done' look like? 3. Don't have only leaders in the room - get the perspective of various end users - even for initiatives that are 'top secret' - think of innovative ways to get users' insights within the impacted area of change. 4. What are the constraints ie money, time, expertise, resources 5. Bear in mind that not all great ideas are commercially viable 6. Define success!

A project plan houses all the necessary details of your project, such as goals, tasks, scope, deadlines, and deliverables. This shows stakeholders a clear roadmap of your project, ensures you have the resources for it, and holds everyone accountable from the start. In this article, we teach you the seven steps to create your own project plan. Project plans are essential to keeping your project organized and on track. A great project plan will help you kick off your work with all the necessary pieces—from goals and budgets to milestones and communication plans—in one place.

Creo que independientemente de cual herramienta utilices para manejar tu agenda lo mas importante es crear una lista de tareas para cada día. Piensa primero en tu meta diaria- así vas a mantener la motivación y la productividad. Recuerda- multitasking no existe. Para ser realmente productivo debes enfocarte en la tarea que tienes al frente. Solo así podrás dar resultados de calidad.

Gerir Projetos implica um conjunto de aplica??o pratica de conhecimentos, execu??o de habilidades, ferramentas e técnicas para planear, executar e controlar atividades com o intuito de atingir os objetivos preconizados pela organiza??o, isso implica capitaliza??o de recursos financeiros, humanos e materiais. Consequentemente temos que ter restri??es específicas, como prazo, custo, qualidade e recursos.

Implement or optimize project management tools like Asana, Trello, or Jira. These tools can streamline task management, collaboration, and overall project tracking. Also, strengthen communication channels within the team and with stakeholders. Utilize project management tools, hold regular meetings, and establish a transparent reporting structure.

Project plans are like religion - essentially a bunch of optimism stories not supported by fact. No amount of magical thinking will ensure that the plan accurately predicts the future - which is why we refer to it as a live document - meaning that we will change it as often as we can so there is a semblance of what actually happened. So planning per se is not adequate alone. We must monitor the activities, and the passing of time and consumption of funds. I recommend buying a watch that buzzes regularly to remind you to go and lift the lid to see what’s happening. And be grateful that the previous PM flushed afterwards.

One thing you should understand and be ready to manage is that your original estimates are just that...estimates. You need to be accurate as the expenses occur and know how to manage expectations for projects you over estimated and underestimated. Never forget your baseline is just your first guess. Over time you get better but managing the variance should be done early and often.

No cometas el error de crear tu estrategia de precios considerando solo las tarifas de competidores. Fija tus precios en función de tu experiencia, costos de producción, valor que agregas al cliente y margen de ganancia que debes tener. En otras palabras: ?basta de intercambiar tiempo por dinero!. Si dise?as una buena estrategia de precio, la gestión del presupuesto será más sencilla. Un tips adicional: si surgen cambios importantes en el alcance y es complejo facturarlo de inmediato, conversa con tu cliente sobre el nuevo alcance y costos, negocia continuar con la operativa y facturarlo en una fecha futura acordada. Esto te lo puedes permitir si dise?aste correctamente tu presupuesto.

It’s still difficult to calculate your costs for a project. Doing your work based on calculation of the real costs afterwards, is the best way. And the most fair one. But in some cases you need to offer your client a price in front. Calculate 5% more to be sure and take in mind your potential profit. Talk to other consultants to find out what a good price is, mostly they use a price per hour. And be aware that you really are worth something.

Establish a detailed forecast budget by identifying all planned expenses. Regularly monitor actual spending against planned budget. Identify and analyze gaps between the planned budget and actual expenses. Implement corrective measures if necessary to adjust the budget. Communicate transparently with the team on the financial status of the project. Keep track of all financial transactions related to the project for better traceability.

Muito bom! Achei útil e importante a abordagem. Parabéns! Trata-se de algo muito importante para qualquer profissional, independente da área de atua??o.

One of the most overlooked aspects when checking for quality is continuous improvement. Often, the focus is on meeting immediate project requirements, but establishing a system for ongoing evaluation and enhancement is crucial. Regularly analyzing feedback, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing corrective actions can elevate the overall quality of your consulting services. This iterative approach ensures that lessons learned from each project contribute to refining processes, preventing the repetition of errors, and enhancing overall project management effectiveness over time.

Consultants strive for excellence by delivering work that surpasses client expectations. Quality control is maintained through the establishment and adherence to rigorous standards, procedures, and guidelines. Activities such as testing, reviewing, and auditing, supported by software tools like checklists and templates, ensure the assurance and control of quality. Transparent communication of quality standards to both the team and the client is vital, coupled with a proactive approach to promptly resolve any issues that may arise. This commitment to quality not only meets but exceeds client expectations, fostering satisfaction and trust in the consultant's work.

En un sector tan competitivo, la calidad y excelencia se vuelve un requisito esencial en el servicio ofrecido. De nada sirve cumplir hitos y deadlines establecidos si lo que se consigue es un resultado mediocre. Por ello, en el trabajo del dia a dia, nunca hay que perder de vista este punto.

Calidad y tiempo, estos pueden ser amigos o enemigos, depende de cómo los administres. Cuando estés en "Modo ejecución" imagina un gráfico con dos ejes de coordenadas, la X es el tiempo, la Y es la calidad. ?Qué sucede si dedicas poco tiempo a tu entregable? De seguro tu trabajo será mediocre. ?Y si dedicas mucho tiempo? Excelente calidad seguramente, pero: ?A qué costo? ?Realmente lo merece? Por ello, dibuja un punto de equilibro entre ambas variables. Para controlar, nada mejor que tener un método claro, un checklist de cumplimiento y ?otros ojos!

En este punto es importante llevar a cabo una ejecución a modo de muestra para detectar puntos de mejora y subsanarlos. Si es necesario llevar a cabo una segunda ejecución, se haría.

En mi experiencia el 80% de los proyectos pueden ser un fracaso si no existe una comunicación asertiva. Tener en tu equipo a una persona asignada para garantizar la comunicación fluida, que vele continuamente por la satisfacción del cliente, que lo escuche e incluso que medie ante posibles conflictos, puede hacer la diferencia. Usa aplicaciones de trabajo colaborativo, ?Esto hará que no envejezcas tan rápido! Yo uso con mi equipo herramientas de Zoho como Cliq, Workdrive, Sprints, Projects. También sirve Microsoft Teams o la suite de Google. Slack y Discord son excelente opciones.

Effective and regular communication with the client is a key. One cannot underestimate the power of trusted and open communication when discussing the project issues and bottlenecks. Most of the failed and loss-making projects I've ever saw have happened mostly due to miscommunication between the stakeholders: business owners didn't clearly articulate their wishes, business planning managers (mis)used this faulty input data and built false or unrealistic plans, the specialists implemented the tasks based on those plans and were too hesitant or shy to highlight that these tasks are unreasonable in current business situation, just blindly fulfilled them.

Communication is the key throughout the life of project. This helps in timely information sharing to all stakeholders not only to maintain transparency but also to be keep trust at the centre, which helps in mitigating risks and issues and improving collaboration

Define a clear communications plan by identifying the stakeholders, communications objectives and channels to use. Communicate regularly and transparently with the project team by sharing updates on progress, challenges encountered and decisions made. Use appropriate communication tools such as in-person meetings, phone calls, emails or instant messaging platforms. Adapt the communication style according to the needs and preferences of different stakeholders.

When something goes wrong you need to identify the cause and the best solutions, and then clearly communicate both to the client as soon as you can. The longer you wait the worse it will be and the more trust you will lose.

Estos dos libros de Elaine Biech, me han resultado una biblia para un consultor: - The New Consultant's Quick Start Guide: An Action Plan for Your First Year in Business| 16 abril 2019 - The New Business of Consulting: The Basics and Beyond| 30 abril 2019 ?Altamente recomendados!

Continuous learning and improvement are integral for consultants after each project. Evaluation of performance involves identifying successes and areas for enhancement. Gathering feedback from both the team and the client, facilitated by tools like surveys or analytics, provides valuable insights. Taking action based on this feedback is crucial for refining future approaches. Software tools such as lessons learned databases aid in documenting experiences and applying best practices. Sharing these learnings with the team and the client fosters a culture of improvement, ensuring that each project contributes to the ongoing development of expertise and efficiency.

Incluye en tu proyecto las tareas de "seguimiento". Por ejemplo: 1. Reunión de retrospectiva con todo el equipo (incluyendo al cliente) al cierre de cada fase del proyecto (no esperes al final): qué salió bien para continuar haciéndolo y qué cosas deben cambiar. 2. Encuesta de satisfacción y casos de éxito. Recopila información clave con una encuesta, pide permisos para publicar testimonios. ?Survey de Zoho es increible! 3. Crea un reporte de cierre de proyecto para tu cliente, esto es muy elegante y te permite agregar una sección de conclusiones, recomendaciones y próximos pasos. Excusa perfecta para conectar siempre con tus clientes. ?éxito!

I am not a friend of structured feedback tools. It can look pitiful when your superior goes through a check-list of items since it gives the impression that they are unable to manage soft skills and need to resort to this (or may be required to use this). Many leaders appear to be afraid of actual leadership! Because people have their personal quirks and differences that can be hard to deal with. Your client may also be hesitant to be too open with feedback - so don't push your luck. You want your client to comfortable. At the same time, practice open communication with your team - preferably without templates and checklists! Soft skills are important, and can be learned if you don't have them intuitively.

A standard process must be undertaken to ensure a quality engagement exercise. Feedback is an integral part of the engagement process.

As a seasoned project and programme management consultant, I'd say nothing quite beats hands-on experience. Sure, you can pick up tools and methods on courses, but you'll gain so much more by shadowing and learning from someone experienced. You'll not only learn the "happy path" but, more importantly, you'll discover how to navigate the tricky "un-happy" bits when things don't go to plan. Remember, there's no one-size-fits-all tool or methodology. Tailor your approach to match the organisation, culture, project, and skill sets you encounter. Happy learning!

As a consultant, I've streamlined project management using Notion and Gantt charts: 1. Notion: It's my go-to for task tracking, deadlines, and storing project documents. 2. Gantt Chart Integration: These charts in Notion visualize timelines, aiding in progress tracking. 3. Effective Task Structuring: I prioritize and set deadlines for tasks within Notion for clarity. 4. Regular Reviews: Scheduled reviews in Notion help assess project advancement and make adjustments. This approach has significantly boosted my efficiency in managing diverse projects.

To enhance project management skills, focus on refining time management, communication, and stakeholder engagement. Utilize project management tools like Asana or Trello for task organization and tracking. Prioritize clear goals, milestones, and deadlines, and maintain open communication with team members and clients. Regularly assess project progress, identify risks, and adapt strategies accordingly. Seek feedback, learn from past experiences, and invest in ongoing professional development to continually improve project management capabilities.

Here are some tips to improve project management: 1. Adapt to Change: Consider agile approach to adapt to changing requirements, market conditions, or stakeholder feedback throughout the project lifecycle. 2. Embrace Continuous Feedback: Integrate regular feedback loops through stakeholder demos or/and user testing to ensure you're on the right track. 3. Measure and Adapt: Continuously measure project performance, progress, and outcomes, and then adapt your strategies and actions based on the data and insights gathered.

Key is to set milestones to review schedule, budget and deliverables, then make adjustments and improvements accordingly. How do you eat an elephant? A bite at a time!