Everyone has projects that must be delivered: on-time, complete, at or above expected quality levels.
You can own the company or be an individual contributor, but you have to deliver on such assignments.
There’s no leeway; you can’t show up late with work half-done. Few excuses will ever justify such performance.
The best way to succeed on these projects is by being systematic in your approach; understand what works for you. Get the recipe right for you and apply it time and again with simple variations that match any new specific needs.
So, what should be considered as you approach this work? How do you get yourself ready to execute that critical project? Try these key steps and you’ll soon be on the right track:
1. Personal Workplace.
Get a private location and adapt it for your comfort, even if you’re traveling. Usually this place should be quiet and without distractions. Set up a space as best you can to suit the project.
2. Organized Space and Materials.
Arrange your workspace so things are readily on hand. Everything should be easily accessible or in convenient locations. Avoid clutter and have all the tools and equipment you need. Any data to be referenced should be already available when possible. Set yourself up with creature comforts and ease-of-use in mind.
3. Time of Day/Energy.
Whenever possible arrange the time for personal projects when your personal energy is best. If you’re a morning person go with that if you can. Avoid those low-energy times; resort to coffee/caffeine or whatever works for you, if you must. If you’re prone to sudden inspiration at random times then ensure you capture these thoughts; be able to scribble them down or record ideas by any means for later use on the project.
4. Timing.
Avoid last-minute pressure and deadlines, unless you’re one of those rare animals who truly thrive on this challenge. Generally, allocate time for work so you can go again (reschedule) if things go awry and there are truly unexpected emergencies that prevent you closing on the project. Last-minute work should be the failsafe backup plan, not the initial scheduling! Quality normally suffers when work is done at the last minute and realistically, people can notice. There’s no upside to being pegged as a last-minute, erratic performer.
5. No Interruptions.
Keep people away: turn off the phone, avoid e-mail and put a DND notice on your workplace, if that’s what it takes. Should someone still break through then truly disconnect mentally from the project and attend to their issue; when you return to work flip the switch so only the project is now in your mind. Do whatever it takes to regain that original focus.
6. Sufficient Time.
Allow enough time to accomplish what you intend in the period set aside. Don’t plan on activity that must be accomplished in this session if there’s obvious risk that insufficient time is available. Be sure to avoid unnecessarily frustrating yourself by either redefining your work-plan, or picking a more suitable time; schedule to ensure a successful session.
7. Focus.
This is the time to be Zen-like. As it is said, eat when you eat; work on nothing else but this project and focus only on the immediate elements that are important. You must always retain your overall vision, but when executing, focus crisply on the specific details before you.
8. Self-Indulgence/Spoil Yourself.
If ever there was a time for self-indulgence, this is it. Perhaps you want things around you that make you happy (pictures, photos, messages etc.) and want to enjoy a special beverage or simple treat that gives you pleasure? Maybe there is a treat as you begin the work, something during the process, or even as you finish the session; why not all three? Anything you do that upgrades your thinking and emotions will be a winning addition to the process.
If you don’t need such perks, so be it.
9. Plan/outline.
Always begin your work with clear objectives in mind. At the outset of the session check and refine the structure of your approach. You will have begun the session with a specific goal; just be sure to reconsider and adjust your plans so you will accomplish your mission in the allotted time, even if things change a little along the way. And if they do, adjust downstream activities accordingly.
Be sure you walk away from this session with everything accomplished as best as is possible.
Then, if there are further steps required, you can build on a previous success.
10. Clean Up afterwards.
This seems mundane, but it’s a critical detail. Always, always clean up after your work. If you’re traveling, then pack ready to set up at the next stop. If in your regular workplace, then leave it as you want to find it, ready and set for your next activity or project. Your set-up might change a little depending on what’s next on the agenda. So, leave the workspace ready for that action and avoid a discouraging cleanup before you attack the coming challenge!
A clean-up transitions your mind away from what you just successfully completed and mentally readies you towards moving forward.
11. Celebrate.
At some time you must take a moment to reward your accomplishment. Maybe the real payoff for the project is after a later presentation? Whatever the end-point, be sure that sometime, somewhere there’s an appropriate personal element of celebration. It might be a simple smile to yourself, or a meal out; just ensure you enjoy and recognize what you have achieved.
Life is not drudgery and your accomplishments deserve motivating recognition.
And, it’s much the same routine every time. Get yourself set up and ready to succeed. Having everything on-hand, convenient and familiar as possible helps puts you in that winning mindset where you know you’ll perform. But Take Note: Subtle variations to your routine can also be the project-specific asset that differentiates your results and helps drive your out-of-the-box thinking.
Some folks can perform well out of chaos. Yet those few often seem to deliver inconsistent results. We all need to perform the best we can, but predictably. So, it’s better to really understand your own best plan-of-attack and largely repeat that formula every time.
How well do you deliver on most personal projects? Do you find yourself often producing inconsistent results? Can you see the reason why you don’t achieve the consistency you or others demand? The flaws usually lie in your preparation. The outline above will maximize your ability to repeatedly deliver at the level you want.
Next time you have a critical project to complete, consider how to get set up. Remember the time you produced that last great product, presentation or report? Think about your own personal recipe for success and then make those same winning preparations, time and again!