First of all, tell me whether you’ve ever uttered a sentence that sounds like this:
Why would we pay for project management training? We deliver our projects…
OK, yes, I suppose it usually takes a bit longer than we originally thought…
And I guess we sometimes fall short of what we really wanted to achieve…
And, yes, we do from time to time put some more money in to get the work delivered.

At 54 degrees we believe you can do better than this.

Here are seven essential points to think about:

1. Have you really planned your project?
A good plan should be complete and realistic. The plan should enable you to see where you are going and where you currently are.

2. Does your project have a clear goal?
That means one that you can measure, so that you know when you have achieved it. For example, a good measurable goal could be: to have moved into office space suitable for your current business and an increase in staff numbers of 10% by the end of the year.

3. Is the goal realistic?
Have you honestly assessed whether your office move is necessary, whether your estimation of increased staff numbers is based on sound principles and whether the timescale and any budget you have set aside is realistic?

4. Have you involved other people in your plan?
That means the people who really know what is going to be involved. Too many projects falter because the right people haven’t got the right information or… dare I say it… the training.

5. Have you written your plan down?
Writing your plan in a format you feel comfortable with means you will use it, which means it will keep you informed about where you are against where you thought you would be – i.e. in control.

6. Do you refer to your plan to check your project is still moving in the right direction?
You don’t have to stick rigidly to the plan – you can even adapt it if need be. But one thing a written plan shouldn’t do is gather dust.

7. Are you honest about the mistakes you made?
At the end of the project – do you take time to review? This step enables you to learn from your mistakes and keep improving.

Every project, large or small, needs to be planned and you need to use that plan to monitor where you are until the project is delivered.
Following these points will deliver better projects. You will still have challenges along the way, but you will be better prepared to solve problems and still achieve your goal – to time and budget.

If this all sounds like good advice, you have just discovered why it is worth paying for project management training.