Essential Strategies to Overcome Resource Challenges
Have you ever felt like you were expected to pull off great project results with very little support? You’re not alone! Projects are launched with limited resources all the time, and many project managers find themselves trying to put together a plan with less people, time, money, or tools than might be ideal.
Don’t worry though! Your projects can still succeed, even when your resources are stretched thin. What’s essential is knowing how to build a solid project plan, and arming yourself with some practical, proven, project planning tips.
Tip one: Lock down project priorities
When resources are limited, you don’t have buffer room in your project timeline or budget, and you definitely don’t have time for rework or delays caused by office politics or hidden agendas. That’s why it’s key to have your project priorities straight right from the beginning.
Use the Priority Matrix tool to help identify which of your three key project elements – time, scope, and budget – are fixed and which are flexible. Then, get agreement and sign-off from your sponsor, steering committee, or senior executives.
That way, everyone is clear they have to work within the agreed upon constraints. This makes the Priority Matrix a powerful tool – one you can use to limit project changes, which is especially key when resources are limited.
Tip two: No mixed messages
Clear and consistent communication is crucial when resources are limited. Miscommunication can quickly derail progress, so it’s essential to keep stakeholders informed about project updates, milestones, risks, and decisions that require their input.
Over-communicating is better than leaving people in the dark – especially when time and resources are tight – so set a regular cadence for updates, and teach your team how to share status updates efficiently. This also fosters trust and keeps everyone engaged, making it less likely for crucial information to fall through the cracks.
More tips for planning with limited resources
I have three more tips to share that will help you plan effectively when resources are limited, so I made a video that dives into them. It explains:
- The first thing to get clear on when you have a tight budget, a small team, or a compressed timeline.
- How to avoid rework, wasted effort, and frustration when resources are tight.
- The shared project document that provides essential structure when working within limited means.
- How to eliminate the challenges likely to throw you off-track when resources are scarce.
Follow me over to YouTube and we’ll keep chatting about this!
Cheers,
Adriana Girdler, PMP | Creator of Slay Project Management™
