How to Prepare for a Successful Project

A detailed project plan should always be a top priority when embarking on a new job. We have some tips on how contractors can create a promising plan before your project kicks off, so you and your team hit the ground running.

Create a Detailed Timeline

As part of creating the project plan, outline a detailed but realistic timeline of your project’s milestones and deadlines to keep your team organized and on schedule. Make the timeline easy to refer to by keeping a copy at the jobsite and distributing both paper and electronic copies to team members. Meet with key players (e.g., foremen and crew leaders) throughout the project to discuss status. With everyone on the same page, you’ll be able to troubleshoot upcoming steps if an item gets behind.

Schedule Review Sessions With Your Team

Start your project plan by scheduling review sessions with key members of your team before each key phase of a project to ensure the job will keep running smoothly. Within these sessions, include time for the team to provide feedback and voice their concerns or observations. You’ll be able to address issues on the fly and anticipate problems that may come up (e.g., surpassing budget, inventory shortage, etc.).

Review Safety Procedures

If you remind team members of safety procedures before a project launches, they’ll feel more confident and react quickly should an incident occur. This can be especially helpful for less experienced team members, and seasoned veterans can always use a refresher. You could even recommend some mobile safety apps that they can download to help prevent accidents and injuries on the job. Additionally, identify any potential hazards ahead of time, which might include roof stability, weather forecasts, fatigue or fall protection, so your team is prepared.

Have a Contingency Plan for When Something Goes Wrong

Something is probably going to go wrong, so it’s always a good idea to have a contingency plan. A contingency plan is designed to take possible future events into consideration. It can serve as a benchmark for how well you’re addressing lessons learned from past jobs. Use experience and feedback from each job to develop the contingency plan for the next. Having a contingency plan can help enhance efficiency, manage customer expectations and address any “surprises” in an effective way.

By creating a precise project plan with a timeline and anticipating potential problems before a project kicks off, you can jump into each job with confidence. Check out our blog for more tips on setting your team up for success, like how to avoid unexpected issues.