Quick Project Management tips for entrepreneurs.
1. No one staff should be in charge of relations with your customers. Spread it. As the owner, also get involved in liaising with your customers so that the day the staff is unavailable or is fired, your business doesn't suffer.
1. No one staff should be in charge of relations with your customers. Spread it. As the owner, also get involved in liaising with your customers so that the day the staff is unavailable or is fired, your business doesn't suffer.
1b. Staff have been known too to head to a competitor firm or open their own rival business. When you allow one staff run your entire operations, the day they leave, they will leave with your clients as people habitually deal with who they're used to.
2. Keep records of everything. Document every project you embark upon. Make it someone's responsibility. It's useful for mid-project reviews or even institutional memory. Always have records of how previous events were ran.
3. Entrench procecces in your organisation. Communication channels, requisition, chain of command, chain of consequences. Spontaneity is good for speed but all things considered, having a process will ensure rules are adhered to & will minimise staff excesses and lapses.
4.Put every agreement down in writing. Internal communication with staff & external communication with clients. Even when conversations are held informally, send a mail & say kindly confirm that we agreed to ABC. It helps track actionable points & eliminates cop-outs & mischief.
4.b. For emphasis,everything agreed upon, have it signed. Your staff promises deliverables, convert it to an agreement & have them sign it. A supplier promises to deliver on x date, a credit customer promises to pay on x date, sign it. People psychologically honour what they sign
5. If your business is based on volatile price parameters, include in your contract that if x happens to alter prices, your price will be adjusted accordingly. If your business is for example fx based, include a clause that in the event of fx fluctuations... you get the gist.
6. Never promise what you cannot deliver. People will rather you tell them you will deliver in 2 weeks than promising 1 week & failing to deliver. Your reliability is an asset. People will patronise you if they're sure you'll deliver in 2 weeks than the person offering 1 week.
7. Do not add any extra to a client's request even if you think it is for their own good without their express permission. It is called scope creep. They may have a reason for wanting that particular specification. No go dey do pass yourself.
8. Emphasise quality of your product over speed & cost. Clients take note of these things. If quality is your watch word, do not compete with people doing it faster & cheaper. Those that appreciate quality will seek you out. E.g: Julius Berger.
9. Always have somebody responsible for every assignment. An assignment left for anyone to handle means there is no one to be held responsible in the event of a fail. Assign specific roles in the organisation to different staff irrespective of their primary role or status.
10. Your organisation is as strong as its weakest link. The smallest task done incorrectly may adversely affect the entire project. Be bullish about quality at all points. Conduct regular internal quality audits. Be harder on your processes than clients.
Bonus point:
1. Again, process is everything. Process may be boring and stifling but processes are the staying power of lasting organisations.
2. Have a rigorous financial management process. Fraud may be tough to completely eradicate but with a tight financial process, easier.
1. Again, process is everything. Process may be boring and stifling but processes are the staying power of lasting organisations.
2. Have a rigorous financial management process. Fraud may be tough to completely eradicate but with a tight financial process, easier.
God bless our endeavours.
Udo diri unu.
Udo diri unu.
