earning to lead a project is not unlike learning to cook. You follow a recipe—a set of instructions that walk you step-by-step through a process to accomplish a specific goal.
Think of these articles as your recipe for learning how to lead project teams. We start with the basics of goal setting and work our way from project planning through completion.
In the beginning, we recommend following the set of instructions as outlined. Once you’re comfortable—just like any great chef—get creative. Mix and match concepts and tools to customize any project to suit your team’s needs and objectives.
Goal Setting
Running a project efficiently can be challenging, especially if you’re new to the process. To effectively lead a project requires careful planning, execution, and monitoring. Here is an easy-to-follow step-by-step guide on how to run a successful project from start to finish.
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A goal setting framework is a step-by-step process for organizing tactics so they can be easily accomplished. Goal frameworks teach us how to create milestones that mark each stage of our progress, resulting in a clear strategy (or plan) for achieving our goal.
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A goal pyramid is a strategic planning framework that helps translate organizational “big ideas”—like mission, vision, and strategic priorities—into smaller, actionable tactics teams can address. Goal pyramid provides an easy-to-follow structure for strategic planning at the individual, team, and department level.
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A SMART Goal is a simple goal setting framework that makes it easy to communicate a project’s purpose, maintain team motivation and focus, as well as establish a timeframe for completion. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
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Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) are a team-based goal-setting methodology that can help you set challenging, yet measurable goals. Objectives (O) help you articulate what you want to achieve. Key Results (KRs) explain how you will achieve them.
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