When you're assigned a new project it can seem overwhelming. But managing your projects systematically can help you stay on top of your work and come out successfully.
The big picture
To start, sit down and take a snapshot of the project, advises Erin O'Hara Meyer, principal of Administrative Excellence in Rosemount.
Once you have a 20,000-foot view of the project, you should outline the key tasks and work those into a schedule so that you can work on a portion each day.
Part of analyzing the project is sorting out the bigger items from the smaller items.
"Know where the short things are so you can work on them as filler when you have five minutes here and ten minutes there," says O'Hara Meyer.
Next, she advises knowing one's personal work style. If you tend to be a perfectionist, that can slow down your progress. On the flip side, if you are someone who presses ahead recklessly, you'll have to redo work.
"You and only you can figure that out," says O'Hara Meyer.