Page 9 - June 2019

Write out the project plan on the momentum of finishing the easier parts

You now have enough information to put a to look at the harder ones. This sounds easy. It
plan together and share it out. Then it’s just a is. It actually works.
matter of following through on the tasks.
Delegate

Write a postmortem Can some of the project be delegated? If you
This does not have to be much more than can take an entire section of a project and entrust
a list of bulleted thoughts. The point is to get it to someone else, it should take a large level of
these thoughts down soon after the event, while stress off of that looming deadline. Besides, if you

they are still fresh in your mind. Do not forget can’t trust your friends and coworkers, who can
to include thoughts on what might have been you trust? (Be careful here. If you are cashing
improved. This could come in handy if you have in favors, do not micro-manage! If you are not
to replicate the project at another time, or when approaching from a position of gratitude, you’ll

others have similar projects. lose much of what you have gained, and lose
credibility along the way!) Remember, gratitude
Move on reciprocates!
It is extremely important to step away for

awhile. Re-scope and pare down
While not usually desirable, you may get to
Okay, so that is the easy part! You’ve set up the a point where you have to come to some tough
project to succeed. How do you keep it on track decisions and eliminate an element in order to

when you see dates slipping, roadblocks getting get the project completed on time and/or on
bigger and bigger, and you find the influence of budget. Reflect again on the first point. What is
others, (and their goals, not yours) creeping into the end-product supposed to be, and how can
the scope of the project? It gets back to my first you best prioritize those elements.

point Understand the result. Begin with the end No doubt you have agreed to do something
in mind. Make sure the MISSION is on track and then looked at yourself and said “What in the
first. It may become the product of “scope-creep” heck did I just sign up for?!” It happens to all of
where one project evolves into another. That is us. Hopefully, this approach will not only realize

not always a bad thing, but it is important to the end of your vision, allow yourself a chance
recognize as the project dates get closer. to reflect on your excellent work, look at your
Here are some ideas that might help to carry task list and ask—”Now that’s done, what’s next?”
you through. Daniel Brewer joined Toastmasters in 2014. He

Break it up and go easy is currently a member of Silicon Forest Toastmasters.
Look at your remaining tasks and try and He is serving as the 2018-19 Division H, Area 94
put them into 10-minute chunks. Then look at Director.
the easiest of them and tackle them first. Build

VOICES! | JUNE 2019 9