Overview
Unless we’re doing it full-time, managing a project is different from our other work. It takes different skills, a different attitude, and it can raise different challenges. Properly planned and controlled, a project can be perfectly straightforward in one person’s hands, but in another’s it can become a nightmare for want of effective management and communication. This ‘fast and effective’ project management training course is an easy introduction to some tried-and-tested tools and techniques that will help avoid the nightmare scenario.
learning objectives
- Understand the core principles of fast, effective project delivery
- Break down project work into clear phases and priorities
- Use simple tools to plan, track, and communicate project progress
- Spot and manage risks before they cause delays
- Build confidence leading small projects or workstreams
Expert trainer
Graham specialises in providing high-quality consultancy, coaching and training personal productivity, sales and business development, and customer service.
Session outline
1. What makes a project successful?
- The key difference between routine work and project work
- Defining clear outcomes, scope, and success criteria
- Aligning projects to business goals and stakeholder needs
- Avoiding the top 3 reasons why projects fail
- Tool: One-page project brief template
2. Planning with simplicity and focus
- Breaking work into manageable phases and tasks
- Using milestones, deliverables, and time estimates
- Creating a practical task list or timeline (manual or digital)
- Planning who does what – and by when
- Exercise: Draft a basic project plan for a real task
3. Tracking progress and staying on course
- The power of check-ins, updates, and reviews
- Tracking actions and deliverables simply and visibly
- Identifying slippage early and taking corrective steps
- Keeping communication clear – upwards and downwards
- Tool: Project tracker template (manual or digital)
4. Managing stakeholders and risks
- Mapping your stakeholders: influence and interest
- Communicating the right level of detail to the right people
- Spotting risks before they become problems
- Keeping others engaged and informed without chasing
- Exercise: Risk and stakeholder mapping activity
5. Building personal confidence as a project leader
- Managing upwards, sideways, and downwards in projects
- Leading meetings and giving clear project updates
- Handling hiccups without panic or blame
- Building your credibility as a reliable project organiser
- Action plan: Next steps for applying project tools in your role
