project management

Any account manager has been there,–working on a project with the deadline looming in the near future and suddenly you hit a bump in the road that puts the project on halt. Whether it is a white paper, press release, blog post, or any other type of deliverable, there are a few things you can do to help ensure that you overcome the hurdle and still hit due dates.

1. Have a process. Having a set process can not only help you fix project issues, but avoid them altogether. By mapping out your due date and the steps you need to take to get the project done in time, you can ensure that the project keeps moving along, and give yourself enough time to work out any kinks. Processes also help when you’re managing multiple clients. Even if they are in different verticals, you will still have to complete some of the same to-do’s to get to the final version, and repetition leads to perfection.
    

2. Use a different strategy. If you’ve already tried sticking to the process but you’re still running into issues, try to look at different ways you can overcome the obstacle. Lay all your options on the table and evaluate which strategy would be the best to try for the best results. A new strategy needs to be carefully evaluated, executed, and monitored to ensure that you don’t create further problems with the project. If the new strategy winds up being a success, make sure you report on it so you can use that method in the future.
    

3. Pool brainpower for ideas. Sometimes the best ideas can come from other people. Be willing to admit defeat and show the problem to other coworkers, even if they’re not fully involved with the project. Sometimes a third party is the best person to ask because they have a bigger view of the entire situation and can potentially spot the real issue, as well as the solution, easier than you may be able to identify it.
    

4. Take a break. This sounds like the complete opposite of what you should do when you have an issue. Most people have a misconception that you should sit with the issue and not leave your desk until you’ve figured it out. However, studies have shown this approach can actually hamper your ability to see the issue and the successful path around it. By taking a quick break you’re giving your mind a rest from the project so you can have better success at solving the issue when you return.
    
   
5. Talk to the client. It may sound unprofessional to talk to the client about an issue because you’re the expert, however, most clients appreciate being in the loop when their hard earned money is concerned. By informing the client of the progress of the project and any issue you encounter (that you can’t fix on your own), you are keeping an trustworthy and open line of communication. In the end, this could be the difference between a happy client and a client who quits. This could also be a good time to talk candidly to the client about the project.

   If you talk to the client, brainstorm together and see if you can find a way to fix the issue. It’s good to keep the client in the know of any changes you want to make to the original proposition. Maybe the issue has no solution and it’s time to take a slightly different route with the project. It’s okay if you can’t always do something exactly to specifications. Sometimes a modified project turns out better than the original would have!

In the end, there are hundreds of ways to solve projects and I suggested only a few potential problem solvers. Everyone will have their own way of doing so, so feel free to experiment and see what helps your brainpower and ability to overcome obstacles. What is my personal problem solving strategy? I take a nap and Google cat pictures. It totally works.

As an account executive I often get asked, “How do you do it all?!” Okay…not really. But as my own hardest critic, I do evaluate my work and contemplate how I might be able to manage everything more efficiently.

Between client calls, staying informed on all projects, and receiving about one hundred emails a day, it can be all too easy for something to slip through the cracks. However, I’ve found at least five easy ways to make it all more manageable and a lot less crazy.

1. Allocate your time. I use a Google calendar along with everyone else in the office. This calendar shows everyone when my meetings are. I plan on having 20-30 minutes before the meeting to prepare reports and follow-up on projects, and about 10 minutes after the meeting to send a follow-up so both the client as well as my teams and I all know the takeaways and action items while they’re still fresh in our minds. I also block out time for monthly reporting and forecasting for projects such as infographic design, press releases, and more.

 

2. Plan projects. When you’re working on a project, you need to know all aspects that go into it. What is the budget? How much time does that give you to work on it? Who will need to be involved? When is the due date? Make sure you ask all those questions and also run the project by your teams and their calendars to ensure that you are giving a realistic goal. By knowing all this up front, it is easier to bid the client correctly and schedule a realistic due date for a project.

 


3. Organize your materials. As I said above, I get over one hundred emails a day. They are all important. So how do I know which ones to pay immediate attention to, and which ones to ignore? For starters, I allocate time in the first part of the morning, in the mid-afternoon, and before I leave work to address emails.

 

4. Communicate often. I can’t stress this one enough. Communication is important at every step of a project. Better communication with your teams can help ensure that projects are moving along, and can help you quickly address an issue long before the project due date rolls around. Communication with the client should be a scheduled event, that way the client feels they are always involved on the projects even before the deliverable. However, if you have an issue or a question comes up, it is important to let the client know ASAP so you can work with them to address it.
    

5. Evaluate the process. Once you’ve completed the project, checked it for quality, and turned it over to the client, it’s good for you to go through and analyze every aspect of the project from start to finish. How did the process go? Did you bid correctly? Were due dates hit? How was the quality of the final product? Was the client pleased? Answering those questions can help you fill in gaps and fix future problems, and even help you create a better forecast for projects in the future.

Of course, there are more than five ways to ensure better project management. What are some tips and tricks of the trade that help you be more effective and efficient?