“Plan the Work, Work the Plan”

“Plan the Work, Work the Plan”

As communications professionals, we aren’t strangers to deadline, intensive projects requiring long hours and several touch base meetings. Our team recently completed a multiple-component project requiring “all hands on deck.” The very nature of the project directed we develop a thorough plan and “punch list” of action items/deliverables needed from each person to ensure a successful project completion. With any project, there is a process, and steps within we commonly refer to as “pre-production, production and post-production.” Every element within these three phases carries the plan to the end.  A glitch in any part of this may derail or delay your project. Once the project is completed, a post-production “debrief” among your team is recommended. It allows for sharing what went well in each process and what should have been handled better. A debrief can also allow team members to safely provide constructive criticism with each other as a means for personal and professional development, creating a stronger team in the end. As they say, “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” The reverse can occur when you thoroughly “plan the work and work the plan.”