Independent Project Management

Going from being a solo freelancer to the leader of an editing agency meant not having to say no to clients and growing my business while getting to work with talented editors. It also meant I could no longer track everything in my head. Don’t get me wrong: I’d been tracking my business since the start, but leveling up created a lot more details to track. Before, if I had just made a note in my planner or simply failed to write down a deadline, I would likely remember it without a problem. Now if I didn’t note deadlines and project details in the proper place, there was a good chance I’d forget the project exists. Big problem. That’s when I jumped into the world of project management software—tools like Asana, Monday, Trello, and Coda (the one I ended up with). Sure, I could track everything in a spreadsheet, but that involved expanding the spreadsheet and making a lot of repetitive entries. I wanted efficiency. I wanted reminders that a task was due or that I had to assign a job. Some projects were large enough to require their own tracker, which meant creating another file, one that wasn’t connected to the main one. I also wanted to easily pull data about my projects. Project management tools are built for efficiency and reporting. They can send reminders to you, team members, and clients. They can host conversations about the project right in the tool. Having everything in one location means changing tools less often, saving you time, and keeping related information together, saving your sanity. If it’s time to move beyond a spreadsheet, consider the following when looking for the right manager for you: 📅Timeline views. Do you like a calendar view? Kanban board? Your tool should provide the view you need. 🗨️ Communication features. Do you need to have chats with contractors or clients? Pass files back and forth? Maybe you want email integration. 📄Template capabilities. Don’t reinvent the wheel each time. Project workflows, task lists, forms—be able to quickly recreate anything you use regularly. 📊 Reporting functions. What data do you want to collect: number of words edited in a year, number of projects, budgets? Set your goals and choose a tool that tracks the right data. ✒️Customization. Usually a tool won’t fit your unique business right out of the box. What customizations would help? 🤖 Automation. Save yourself time on the easy stuff. Automated updates, reminders, and report generation are a few ways your project management tool can make your life easier. Ready to choose your first project management tool? Start with these questions: Do I need to collaborate with others? Not ready for project management software? Download my Time Sheet Tracker (a.k.a., project tracker), along with several other business trackers, from my Freelancer’s Business Library: https://zurl.co/Zi01N. What project management solution works for you? Share your experience in the comments! #Freelancing #SmallBizTips #AmEditing

You don't have a project manager title but you're being asked to act as an unofficial project manager at your organization. Where do you start? 1️⃣Begin with the end in mind. For those coming from education, we call this backwards planning. If your deliverables are due December 1, talk with your team to determine how long each step in the process should take. Set up a schedule based on that discussion. Now you know when each part of the process should be completed to stay on schedule and will help define the project's milestones. 2️⃣Have a clear end goal or deliverable. There's no way to start a project if you don't know where you're heading. Confirm this goal with the stakeholders and project sponsor. Anything outside of that final goal is considered out of scope and will mess with your scope, budget, or schedule. Politely say no. 3️⃣Manage your risks. This has two components: One, communicate any issues and have a plan for how and how often you're going to do that. This keeps the team on the same page. No surprises. Two, have a plan for what you will do when something goes wrong. Because it will! No project goes completely according to plan. 4️⃣Document everything. Whether it's notes of what happened in a meeting, a possible risk coming down the road, a delay from a vendor, whatever. Document it and make those notes easily accessible for the team at all times. 5️⃣Communication and transparency. Having a clear communication plan of when and how information will be communicated to the team is key to the success of any project. Also make sure that all project documentation, data, and timelines are accessible at all times to the team members. Transparency can help to catch problems before they become major issues and reduce frustration for team members. These five items should help you get started as an unofficial project manager! #projectmanager #projectmanagement #professionaldevelopment #careertransition

Effective project management is a critical skill for driving success across diverse industries, regardless of whether you hold the formal title of project manager. The Guide to Project Management for Non-Project Managers provides a clear and accessible framework for anyone tasked with organizing, planning, and delivering results. With practical insights into project phases—initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closure—this guide emphasizes that project management is not just a specialized role but a universal skill. Through relatable examples and step-by-step instructions, the guide introduces foundational concepts such as scope, budget, and timeline management while highlighting essential soft skills like communication, leadership, and collaboration. It demystifies the use of tools and techniques, enabling readers to confidently manage tasks, mitigate risks, and navigate challenges in their day-to-day responsibilities. Designed for professionals in any role, this resource empowers individuals to embrace project management principles, ensuring they can deliver outcomes efficiently and effectively. By applying the strategies and techniques outlined, readers will be equipped to lead projects with clarity, precision, and success.