Now that 2020 has arrived, it’s time to start acting on those New Year’s Resolutions. Last week, we spoke about the power of goals. This week, we’re going to examine ways you can boost your project management skills and improve your efficiency.
January is a time for reflecting and taking stock of what’s come before. It’s also a time to dream and plan the future you want.
As a small business owner, new goals and objectives come easy at this time of year. Project Management can often be overlooked during this process but it’s a critical skill needed to evolve and grow a small business. If you’re reflecting on your 2019 business goals and why some didn’t happen, Project Management represents one of the easiest areas to upskill.
Here are five simple changes you can make to your Project Management in 2020 that will improve how quickly and skillfully you deliver on your business goals.
Take those Spreadsheets Online
Still using spreadsheets? Alternatives exist online that will allow your team to collaborate and see the latest updates in real time. In the age of agile development and sprints, project management requires more nimble tools that support dynamic communication. One such option for spreadsheet lovers is Wrike. This nimble piece of software can be used by small teams for free, with a further paid option for full project planning and collaboration. If Wrike feels too much to adopt, a happier middle ground can be found with Smartsheet. Adding a little collaboration to your spreadsheets will immediately boost the efficiency and productivity of your team.
Use a Project Management Tool
Project Management tools have been one of our favourite online additions in recent years. Apps like Trello and Asana allow users to create online boards with tasks and notes. Members of your team can collaborate on tasks, instantly receiving notifications when a job has been completed. Both tools have easy to use mobile apps that allow users to track the progress of projects remotely. The move to organize and prioritize your tasks by day, week and month will ensure you stay on top of projects in 2020 and efficiently deliver them on time.
Attack Your Email Inbox
Missing important emails as they drop down the list? Losing meeting invites and notes? Let 2020 be the year you conquer your email inbox with an amazing organizational tool. Gmail users can download Sortd and organize their inbox into three handy lists. When an email comes in, click and drag into the correct list so you know where it can be found when needed. Check off your email to-do list by sorting into neat columns. Helping to stay on top of a busy inbox will help your projects to run smoothly and you’ll reach inbox zero status in no time.
Master Proposal Writing
Drafting proposals has long been considered tedious work, but it doesn’t need to be this way. Take your proposals into the 21st century with Proposify, a handy tool that allows you to create beautiful, professional proposals in no time. This robust app allows you to export PDFs of your proposal, see data on how long people spent reviewing your proposal, and even integrates with CRM software and accounting tools like Quickbooks.
Ready to Help
If one of your goals involves starting, or growing, a business in 2020, GD Commerce is here to help. Contact Us and find out how we can lessen the load.
Thank you to our GD Commerce Partners:
- Create Your Business Website Using Shopify
- Harness the Power of Drip CRM Software
- Set up Subscription Boxes, Recurring Orders and Payments Easily Using Bold Partners
- Boost Your Business Bookkeeping with Bench
- Learn How to Master Website SEO Using Mangools