How to Plan Anything

Making a plan should be easy, right? Just jot down a list of to-dos and go to it. However, depending on the scope of the project, somewhere between that to-do list and execution, we can get lost. If you’ve ever found yourself with an endless list of home projects, an interesting idea for a business that you’d like to explore, or an upcoming vacation, then you may know the feeling of overwhelm that can accompany them. Do these projects, ideas, and intentions pile up and instead of completion, you’re left with untapped potential? 

Oftentimes, when we’re faced with a lot of ideas or projects, we may not know how or where to start. In my case, I often have so many ideas coupled with the unrealistic expectation that I can get them all done now. This leads to stagnation. An idea is not a plan, but with a little thought and a few steps, you can get the ball rolling on those awesome ideas floating around in your head just waiting to come to fruition! Here are a few project management skills that hopefully can help you plan anything.

Initiate

Sometimes getting started is the hardest part, but a good thing to remember is that this is a preliminary step and shouldn’t take a long time. It’s not the actual, detailed plan. Some things to ask yourself in this step are:

  • What are my project goals? 

  • What are the tasks that will need to be done?

  • What’s my deadline?

  • What’s my budget? 

  • Who are the key “stakeholders,” or in the case of a home project, family party, or vacation, who else has a say or will affect the outcome? A spouse, other family members, a boss, etc?

Plan

  • Prioritize tasks. Which ones are critical or must be completed for the next step of the project to move forward? 

  • Create a schedule.

  • Assess risks. What could possibly derail your project? If it’s a home project, will you be out of town or have visitors? Are you hiring out work? Is there a shortage of needed supplies? If it’s an outdoor party, what’s the weather forecast? 

  • Communicate the plan. Open communication with the other “stakeholders” will help in moving forward. 

Execute

Hooray! You’ve reached the point of action. It’s time to move forward with your set plan! 

Monitor and Control

Reassess and keep an eye on your schedule as the plan progresses. 

Project Close

At the end of the project, evaluate how it went. Was the outcome what you’d hoped for? Is your project to your standards? What did you learn from the process that you can take into the next project/planning session? 

Hopefully these few simple steps can help jumpstart your next big idea!



Blog Manager