Everyone knows horror stories of projects going down due to lackluster planning and organization. Some brave ones reading this have been a part of such projects. In this day and age, it is easy to determine whether the project is doomed from the start or if it’s going to go down very soon after taking off.

Here are 6 mistakes that one must avoid while planning a project

1. Communication Is Key

Experienced managers know this is one of the most if not the most crucial aspect of project management. There are a lot of deliverables and timelines to follow. Keeping small talk to a minimum might seem like a good option, but experienced leaders will tell you that this is not the case.
Little things like these can make or break a project. If one of your team members is stressed and you keep on unloading work on them, there is a very good chance that the person might just crack under pressure.

2. Tools for Collaboration

Monitoring updates and resources can be a hassle to track if you are not using a tool to record these. It is in your best interest to use a company-wide tool that feeds you this information periodically. This improves the efficiency of the project several times.

3. Prioritization

Some tasks are much more important than others. Final touch-ups can wait till the end. One must ensure that the core mission is realized first and then other things are added on top of it. Priorities can change even in the middle of the project, so you should alert everyone else immediately to avoid losing time.
Make sure your best teammates are doing the more important work. Make sure they can concentrate for long hours and finish the task at hand.

4. Say No

Often, the client or your superiors might want to add things that will definitely slow things down. You, as a project manager, must be able to tell them that it won’t be possible. Having a firm response helps but telling them how it can slow things down usually does the trick.

5. Too many People in the Decision-Making Process

Too many decision-makers slow down the progress and may lead to a bad decision.

6. Assign Wisely

Dumping a lot of work on someone will only lead to backlogs and will create future problems. Split the work judiciously and make sure you complete small goals leading up to the bigger goal.