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.

As the project proceeds, it's important to make sure you're making progress by establishing goals and deadlines.

Delegation

There may be instances where you can delegate portions of your project to other admins, but it will depend on your circumstances.

"You need to do it for the right intention," observes O'Hara Meyer. "You need to do it for the sake of the project."

If you know a co-worker's strengths and weaknesses, it might be possible to trade a portion of your project for some of his or her work.

Delegation is easier, notes O'Hara Meyer, when you are working in a team environment or if there is an admin manager who can help.

But with delegation comes the risk of other people's bad time management putting you in a tough spot.

It can be hard for admins who tend to be non-confrontational, but it's important to be able to hold others accountable.

Ultimately, tackling a project with a solid plan will make a seemingly impossible project a successful one.

Robert Elsenpeter is a freelance writer from Blaine.