A pen and paper list or physical whiteboard isn't enough to keep complex project plans organised and flexible, especially across remote teams. Learn more about project management software and resources any company can start using to get more done in less time, increasing productivity and effectiveness.
Not all project management tools (pm tools) are created equal, and no organisation should try to use all of them at once. The best project management tools have powerful features that help both large and small teams work better, such as:
The list of project management tools and software is never-ending and new programs surface every day. Asana, Basecamp, Trello, Zoho Projects and Smartsheet are just a few of the tools many organisations use. The key is to find what few tools work for your team and create a process everyone can adopt to make project management easier and team collaboration more robust.
The business world lives online, and it can be difficult for remote managers to understand how their team members spend their time. Time tracking tools shouldn't necessarily be seen as a way for managers to control or micromanage their direct reports. They can be an extremely helpful tool for allocating each team member’s time to the projects that matter most.
Furthermore, tools that allow every employee to track time can make them more aware of what they spend their time on, where they waste time and how they can become more productive to reach their goals faster.
There are a variety of time tracking tools and software available online. You can often use them as a Chrome extension, Windows or Mac applications or even right within your web browser without having to install anything. Some time tracking applications even have mobile apps, so you can take them with you on the go. Try Toggl, Timely or OfficeTime and see what works best for you and your team.
Project managers can’t get their team members to collaborate and communicate efficiently if everyone is using a different program or method to manage their own tasks within the project. GANTT charts have been used historically, but they can be difficult to keep updated since every time someone makes a change in the spreadsheet, it needs to be emailed to the rest of the team again.
Wise organisations use project management systems to keep the entire project team up to speed in one place. For example, Samewave is social performance management software that uses the power of Promise-Based Management and Social Discipline to track project progress and individual performance.
With Samewave, every project team member can:
Best of all, Samewave is free. Sign up today, download our project management apps and start creating a more collaborative and efficient project management process.
Email is no longer the only way (or the best way) for business teams to communicate. Email threads can be lengthy and encourage people to write in long paragraphs rather than short, digestible pieces of information.
Teams work best when they have tools that allow for quick communication in real time. Many teams use programs like Skype, Slack or Google apps to chat and collaborate with team members about work issues, send files and communicate updates.
While team chat apps are helpful for business communication and team collaboration, they should be used wisely. Be careful not use chat apps for too many social or personal conversations. Don't let a chat app turn into a social media chat platform. It can disrupt your productivity and keep you from reaching important deadlines and milestones.
Creating an effective project management tools and implementing a new process doesn't have to be difficult. Sometimes, the hardest part is getting all of your team members on board and welcoming a change in the current process.
Even if the change comes with good reason and it will make your team members' lives easier, many people are reluctant to change simply because it's a diversion from what they are used to. Help employees welcome a change in your project management process by onboarding and training specific groups or departments at separate times, providing a clear rationale for the change and robust training on how to successfully use any new project management tools that the organisation has adopted.
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