Project Managers, Do you have repeatable processes and approaches?
Do you know what's challenging and frustrating, having to start again for something you know you've done before?
Trying to remember how you did it or where that file you created a few months back was stored can waste a lot of time.
There are multiple impacts this can have on you as a Project Manager,
❌ It takes longer to do, so you have less time to work on valuable tasks. This may seem small, but it adds up.
❌ You can repeat the same mistakes you made the last time you did it.
❌ It takes more brain power; why make it harder for yourself?
❌ You miss the opportunity to improve on how you did it last time.
❌ Stress and anxiety levels can increase as you're under pressure to get the task done.
Every Project Manager should have a bank of repeatable processes, approaches, checklists, slides you can quickly access, use and adapt when needed.
This could be anything.
- Your checklist for writing an SOW
- The steps you need to plan a K.O meeting
- A K.O agenda to reuse or adapt
- A process for how you create a weekly report
- The slides you use to explain your delivery approach
- The checks for when reviewing your project's finances.
- Reminders/checks to run a 121 with your team member
- Your approach for how you plan your week or day
The list goes on, but the general rule is if you'll need it again, save it.
Plus, doing this and building out your knowledge base can have the following positive impacts.
✅ Your confidence in your ability improves as multiple aspects of managing a project are less daunting.
✅ Your performance improves as you produce faster and at a higher quality.
✅ Your colleagues and management see and experience a higher standard of work from you.
✅ It provides a bank of things you can discuss in interviews, which helps you stand out from those you're interviewing against.
Whatever you create and save, don't assume it's still the best approach; regularly review, improve, and, in some cases, discard it and start again.
Do you have a bank of repeatable processes and approaches?
If you do, how do you store and maintain it?
