5 project management ideas that should be extinct

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There are many ways to manage a
project: from Agile to Waterfall to
hands-off supervision to
management by walking around…

And then there
are these 5 ideas
that should go the
way of the dinosaur.

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1. Stick to the Plan, No Matter What
Is your project manager inflexible? Does he/she want
to stick to the plan even when requirements shift and
needs change? Unfortunately, life never works that way.

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Have a complete project plan but be ready to pivot.
Changes are not evil.
They’re opportunities to improve your project.

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2. Manage It Via Email
Your boss insists: “Email me a status report!” And soon you’re buried
in a cluttered inbox, looking in vain for info or attachments, spending
more time on email than actually moving the project forward.

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The truth is there are better, more collaborative tools than email.
These tools allow efficient communication and better accountability —
away from the inbox.

Click to learn
about Wrike’s team
collaboration
software!

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3. Just “Wing” It
Vague project plans still exist. And there are still project
managers who want to improvise ALL the time, hoping for
brilliance and success but never preparing the ground for it.


Give your team everything it needs for success: concrete plans, clear
expectations and deadlines, tried and tested processes.

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4. Have More Meetings
Unfortunately, meetings are not venues where real work gets
done. They often take too long and involve people unnecessarily.

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Instead, meetings should involve only those whose work is directly
affected by the agenda. Send the agenda beforehand.
Use a timer to enforce a meeting’s length.

Click to Read:
7 Tips for Better
Meetings

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5. Only Hire Locals
Sure, work might be easier when you can meet
face-to-face. But what if the skills you need
CAN’T be sourced locally?
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With the advanced communication tools available, remote work CAN be
done successfully. Consider hiring outside your local area — if the skills fit.

Click to Read:
5 Best Video
Conference Apps for
Your Team

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Get With the Times
We’re managing projects in a totally different environment from 10 years
ago. And if we don’t shift away from archaic and inefficient ideas, we doom

our work to failure… and possibly, extinction.

Click to read the
Wrike Blog for more on
modern project
management.


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