6 Tips for Effectively Managing Small Projects

Do you ever sit and think about how many responsibilities you have to fulfill today? Without realizing it, you will be communicating with your students, clients, or coworkers. You will need to make sure your income exceeds your expenses, and you will still need to meet the expectations of your superiors.

This may sound like a simple job description, but it is actually the core functions of project management. Most of the work around the globe can be described as the management of small projects. Rather than getting overwhelmed by your role as a mini project manager, try following these tips.

Communicate With Clients Often, and Track Your Communications.

When was the last time you were asked about when you had spoken with Client A?  Can you find the answer without digging through the call-log on your phone? If not, you need to start tracking your communications. You should track how, when, where, and why you communicate with each of your clients. This will help you stay on track and keep client information confidential as well.

Monitor Your Expenses.

At the close of the day, your business will only be able to open the next morning if enough money is in the bank to support it. This is where expense tracking comes into play. Determine how much your business needs to take in to meet your outstanding debt obligations. If you notice your income is not exceeding your expenses over several days, you need to take action.

Get Proactive About Marketing.

Reaching out to your clients is the same as marketing, and encouraging previous clients to place orders will grow your business. Try not to think of marketing as strictly advertising; it should include all of your work to build client-business relationships and continue doing business with each other.

Analyze the Risks to Your Daily Activities.

Some occupations carry higher chances for problems than others. This is where risk analysis and risk management come into play. Create a list of the potential problems for your business, and look for any correlations between them. This will help you identify the problems that you need to prevent. Furthermore, it can save you money on wasted expenses as well.

Create a List of Your Daily Duties.

Each day, you should have a specific set of goals to accomplish. This is like creating a checklist, but think of each item as small projects. One project may focus on one client, and another may require a few hours of time on the phone with the IRS. By knowing what you need to do today, you will make sure you do not forget anything. Also, keep this list after completing all of the items. It will help if you need to go back to see your records.

Plan Things In Time Periods

You may have work to do over the course of one hour, or you may have a specific responsibility that takes several days. You need to manage your time by setting specific time periods for working on specific things. For example, you may write the estimated time for each duty next to them on your list. However, you can move forward when you complete one activity early to minimize the chances of falling behind if something should come up.

You have probably used some of these tips previously, but they are the most powerful when used consistently. Otherwise, print out the following bulleted information, and keep it easily-accessible.

Key Points For Keeping Track of Your Small Projects

• Keep a record of all your communications in a separate location, not just your smart phone.
• Create a working schedule, which may be by hour, day, or week, of what you need to accomplish.
• Keep in touch with existing clients, and encourage additional work for yourself. Think of it as an investment towards your future.
• Monitor your expenses and your income.
• Identify the potential problems, or risks, to your business by looking for similarities between them.