5 Quick Ideas - Project Planning

Just as with Long Term Planning and Short Term Planning, projects demand their own plan.  The thing about project planning is it is the best opportunity you could have to build your involvement base.

As has been mentioned elsewhere, volunteerism is down... everywhere.  And while there have been many theories posed as to why this is, nothing has really been offered as a way to solve this.  Project Planning is your best bet, and here's why -

A project has a specific task, requires people to be involved, gives them defined and accomplish-able tasks, and best of all... it ends.

So being successful with project means you can bring more people in long term to meet the demands of larger more involved aspects of your organization.  If you do it right.

This means -

IDEA 1 - HAVE A CLEAR OBJECTIVE
Every undertaking should have a clear objective.  Spend time knowing exactly what the outcome you want is, and all of the elements of that.  For instance, if you are putting on an educational forum, you want to test:

• How many people should attend
• How much money you should raise from tickets
• How much money you should raise from sponsorships
• What kind of publicity you want to get out of your effort
• What takeaways do you want people to have from your effort
• What objectives you can accomplish in relationship to your overall plan

Knowing your desired outcome not only allows you to figure out your plans of how to get there, but allows you clear understandable expectations for people to accomplish.

IDEA 2 - CREATE CLEAR RESPONSIBILITIES
Assuming youve set your clear objective, and all the sub-objectives you can consider, your path to success should be easier because you will know what the metrics for success are, as well as what you can accomplish.

Use this opportunity to break down what needs to be accomplished into pieces that others can take on.  Give them CLEAR directions of what you expect, as well as ideas of how to accomplish those goals, and move them forward from there.

IDEA 3 - CHECK IN REGULARLY
Clear objectives are great, as long as someone follows through.  People are more apt to achieve their goals if:

• You provide them clear expectations
• You provide them the tools to accomplish those expectations
• You make sure you are checking up on them so that they know they need to meet those expectations

No one wants to say "I didnt do it" publicly.  Capitalize on that fact.

IDEA 4 - GIVE UP CONTROL OF EVEN SOME BIG THINGS
Face it, your role is to manage here.  So give up control of things to others.  They will perform if you keep on them.  Give up control of some BIG things too.  The trust you place in others will come back ten fold.  And trust that it will get there.

IDEA 5 - NOTHING IS EVER PERFECT, BUT ONLY YOU WILL NOTICE
We've all heard stories about brides breaking down because of some miniscule detail being overlooked at their wedding.  The cake was too tall, we used the wrong silverware, the flower arrangements werent perfect.

Yeah they happen, and it wasnt what you expected.  But no one else knows that.  And they never will unless you make them.

Project planning is an incredible opportunity to test those involved with your organization.  Dont let these opportunities pass you by.

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