As a project manager, you sometimes have to create miracles in short time frames. You’re not only juggling your own daily tasks and responsibilities, but also managing timelines, schedules, budgets, and your team members’ daily asks. And more than likely you’re managing multiple projects at once. While we all have our own work habits that work for us, here are some habits that I swear by that might be able to help you as you start working on new projects:

  1. CHECK YOUR TIMELINES EVERY MORNING:
    This is a big one for me. To start my day and to get everything in-line, I have to review all my timelines. It’s such a simple way for me to start my day organized. Plus, it not only helps me allocate priorities for the day, but also helps me set my expectations so I know what I need to communicate to my team.

  2. ALWAYS LET YOURSELF LEARN:
    Every project succeeds in its own way, so a process that worked on your last project might not translate to the next. That’s why you need to open yourself up to learning new procedures. Plus, it’s possible that your team members might change between projects so you’ll have to adapt to everyone’s work styles. Personally, I think this is one of the greatest things, so try to look at things from their perspective and be open to your team’s thoughts. Who knows, you might learn something new!

  3. INVOLVE YOUR TEAM MEMBERS:
    It’s so important to constantly involve your team members, because as the saying goes “teamwork makes the dream work!” But seriously, having open communication with your team members is not only helpful to yourself but essential to your project’s success. Since each person on a project has their own area of expertise, it’s crucial to encourage collaboration and knowledge transfer throughout the project.

  4. FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS:
    Every now and again, we all experience a little bump in the timeline but instead of focusing on the problem, focus on the solution. Be proactive and utilize your communication and risk management skills to face the issue head on with a solution in mind. When you come to the table equipped with a solution instead of dwelling on the problem, you save time and keep your team’s spirits high.

  5. BE OPEN TO CHANGE:
    Not all projects go according to plan and with that you have to be willing to reassess the situation, rally your team members together, and adjust accordingly. Cultivating this mindset is necessary so you don’t make rash decisions that could lead to a crisis down the road. When you better accept that things have gone differently, and calmly assess the situation, you can then figure out how to turn things around and accept the change. We all have our own style and our own habits that works best for us, these are just some of the things that help me on a daily basis and keep me aligned with the projects I have going on.