In the fast-paced world of project management, pressure and performance are constants. While the role can certainly be fulfilling and provide one with a pathway to success, it often comes with a considerable level of stress. Below are 16 pointers for both the workplace and the home that will help you to manage the heat when it comes.
On the Job: Position Yourself for Success
- Identify your objective. Be explicit and specific about what your aim is. Take into account how your strengths and limitations factor into your game plan. Don’t sell yourself short, but don’t bite off more than you can chew, either.
- Keep quality a cut above. The best businesses prioritize the quality of their product and service. Taking shortcuts may save time and money at first, but over time your employees and customers will take notice. An uncommon commitment to quality will unite your employees around a common cause and captivate potential customers.
- Seek guidance. Connect with coworkers who have tackled projects like yours before. Their experience and insights will likely be an asset to you.
- Put first things first. When working on a new assignment, identify the tasks that call for the greatest urgency and create a methodical plan to accomplish them. Don’t burn yourself out trying to get everything done at once.
- Delegate strategically. Optimize the performance of your teammates by assigning them tasks that their strengths are compatible with. As you lead, be quicker to commend than you are to criticize, and always be constructive in your criticism.
- Equip your team. Provide them with the support they need to accomplish the objective. Be prepared to explain to your superiors how your team has been able to leverage the resources they’ve been given. Use this as an opportunity to secure your leadership’s trust and dispel any concerns they may have.
- Converse with your team. Don’t withhold need-to-know info. Keep collaborators in the loop when it comes to the project timeline and performance. If you hit a roadblock, invite your team members to devise creative solutions, drawing upon their expertise.
- Maintain contact with stakeholders. You never want your clients to feel like they’re on the outside looking in. If you think a correction or delay is necessary, communicate that to your customers. Treat them like partners in the project rather than observers of the project.
- Monitor your progress. Catalog your successes and your setbacks, and consider the lessons in both. Keep any valuable insights in your mental inventory for your next assignment.
In Your Off-Hours: Take Time to Recharge
- Ditch the screens. The more time you spend tethered to your phone and laptop, the more difficult it is to disconnect. Commit to going “off the clock” at a specific time, and use those hours to attend to personal needs and to enjoy your loved ones.
- Get active. It’s just science: exercise is one of the best things you can do to keep your physical and mental health in tip-top shape. It lightens your mood, minimizes stress, and curbs feelings of anxiety. If you’re a music-lover, use this time to jam to your favorite artist as you work out.
- Eat healthily. Like exercise, a good diet is a key ingredient to improved health. Be intentional in choosing what foods to consume, and make sure to drink plenty of water over the course of the day.
- Don’t sleep on the importance of sleep. This is pretty self-explanatory, but the less rest you get, the less effective you are on the job. Shocking, I know. As much as I may have believed it in college, being able to pull an all-nighter is not a cardinal virtue, as it turns out.
- Find an avenue that suits you. Perhaps you’re drawn to quiet time and solitude, or a spa treatment, or a meandering stroll outdoors. Whatever your preferred method, create opportunities for relaxation.
- Breathe well. It sounds overly simple, but breathing correctly is a surefire way to reduce stress. Periodically throughout your day, pause and focus on your breathing. Slow and deepen your inhalation, and exhale gently through your nose. Do this as often as needed.
- Be loved. Gather with those who give you a sense of belonging. Nothing cures stress quite so well as the affirmation of a friend, the shoulder of a partner, or the listening ear of a loved one. Also, never underestimate the healing power of humor and thoughtful conversation.
As you continue in project management, consider putting these pointers into practice. Not only will you see your productivity enhanced and your stress reduced, but you’ll also see your overall quality of life improved.
