5 Step Formula for Getting Projects Done

Every day there seem to be 100 things that need to be done all at the same time. With so many people needing to be touched with the love of God in our world today, our churches are always busy with various projects... whether outreach to the community, special events for members, children's services... (the list can go on and on).

Our pastors are always in need of our encouragement, support and, probably more importantly, our commitment to getting our jobs done with excellence.

With so many projects going at the same time, getting a handle on them can be difficult. Here's my 5 step formula for getting projects done.

1. Begin with the end in mind
Begin each project with the end in mind. Picturing what you want your end result to be will help you create a clear cut action-plan for completing the project.

2. Set project goals and milestones with deadlines
Every project should have goals. Some are large, while others will be small. Each goal or milestone should include a deadline for completion. For example, if you are planning an outreach concert, one of your major goals would be to secure your venue... and you definitely need a deadlien for that.

3. Write everything down
Don't forget the importance of writing everything down. Trying to do things by memory is a recipe for disaster. There will be something that you won't remember. For every project I start I use an extensive checklist (a sample of the checklist I use when working on our yearly youth conference is inlcuded with my Basic Training 101 book and my Basic Forms Pak).

4. Organize and de-clutter
This is pretty self explanatory. When my office is organized, it just seems to lower my stress levels. I don't feel so "wound up" all the time. One thing that I use to keep my projects organized is a simple 2" binder. I call it my 2008 Proejcts Binder. It is divided into sections with tabs and my sections inlcude Items to Do Today, Women's Conferencd 2008, Letters Needing Response, New Speaking Requests, plus a few others. This helps me keep all of my current projects completely organized.

5. Have periodic check-ups
Every so often, depending on the scale of the project, you should evaluate your progress. If you are keeping a to-do list, this will be much easier. Scheduling weekly or bi-weekly planning meetings will help you and even your co-workers stay on target with your projects as well.

©2008 Church Secretary Essentials / Pensational Print Media Group

NOTE: You're welcome to use or "reprint" this article online as long as it remains complete, unaltered and includes this blurb with it: Tamala M. Huntley, "The Church Secretary Coach," is the author of the revolutionary manual, "Basic Training 101: Effectively Managing Multiple Projects... A Super Easy Guide to Getting More Done, Reducing Office Clutter and Producing More With Less Stress." To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://www.ChurchSecretaryEssentials.com