Does it sound familiar to you when I say that there’s a lot going on every day and yet it’s occasionally a bit of a precarious balancing act to keep managing this in an effective way? It might help if you know what type of tasks you spend most of your time doing. In fact, in every organization there are 3 types of work: routine, project-oriented and unexpected tasks. It depends on your context whether you work more routinely or rather apply one of the other work forms frequently.
Each work format requires a different approach.
In addition to the right approach for each type of task, you would also like team members to work together efficiently and reinforce each other, and to complete all tasks or projects with quality. How can you support this? Part of the answer lies in the art of project-based work, a skill that is becoming increasingly valuable! But then you have to be sure you are working on projects 🙂 .
When do you talk about a project?
A project is a temporary collaborative effort with a clearly defined goal and a unique end result. Below you will find the characteristics of each work form.
- Improvisation: This requires speed and flexibility, the art of adapting to unexpected situations. Think of a customer who is unexpectedly at your door. You have to improvise to satisfy the customer and complete your other tasks.
- Routine: Routine plays a role in daily tasks that ensure consistency and efficiency. An example is making a daily schedule for your employees or preparing an invoice. You always do this following the same set of activities, or the same “process.”
- Projects: Projects are always temporary and focus on a specific, unique output. This requires focused efforts and a structured approach.
Each mode of work is crucial. Bu by identifying exactly that you work on a specific project:
- you will gain insight into when a task should be treated as a project.
- you will work towards a successful and sustainable result.
- you will be enabled to set clear goals for each project.
- you will be able to use resources more efficiently.
- you will be able to closely monitor progress and make adjustments where necessary.
A common language and approach in project work
Once you know when you are working on projects, it is also helpful to do so according to a uniform method. This can do miracles. It creates a common language, allowing team members to communicate and work together more effectively.
A standardized and consistent approach ensures that you:
- (re)recognize projects: Using a uniform method makes it easier for all involved to identify and understand projects.
- can provide a clear state of affairs: A structured approach provides clarity about the progress of projects. Everyone knows what stage each project is at.
- can do streamlined progress monitoring: With a unified approach, bottlenecks can be identified and resolved more quickly, leading to better results and satisfaction among colleagues and clients.
Consequently, project-based working is more than a methodology: it is a mindset that, when applied correctly, can lead to significant improvements in the way projects are initiated, executed and completed. It provides clarity, structure and a path to success for both small and large initiatives.
In short, project-based working is the key to effective collaboration and successful outcomes. More info or customized project-based work training? Contact info@insightful.be or schedule a free introductory meeting! 🚀