As a consultant, there are many things that should be planned out and effectively communicated with the customer, and certain tools can add a professionalism that is much appreciated by the customer, as well. A Salesforce consultant can utilize many tools to make their tasks more efficient, so their projects can flow without a hitch. The ability to communicate project plans, task management, resource management, and the project timeline are necessary to ensure the project moves forward properly, with a clear line of sight for everyone involved.
Let’s take a look at the proper tools of consulting one should use to organize their time.
Project Plans
Project plans are what communicate to the client the overall goal of the project, and how you plan on meeting that goal. These roadmaps often require a lot of time and are only effective once all of the cards have been laid on the table. A consultant should know each pain point the customer is experiencing and why these projects are so important. Only then can a project plan be put in place to lay out milestones and expectations of future successes. Smartsheets and Microsoft Project are my preferred tools for Project Plans.
Task Management
A consultant should also properly communicate, both internally with team members and externally with customers, the expectations around task management. Does everyone know what they are responsible for, how to work around roadblocks, and the agreed upon due date for their tasks? Using visual tools can assist with this, as well, as projects have a tendency to be large and overwhelming. Frequent touch points and visual markers to indicate progress are just a few ways to make sure the tasks are being completed on time. JIRA and Azure DevOps are my preferred tool for Task Management.
Resource Management
Just as tasks are managed, resources should also be planned out, as well. You will want to make sure your people are not stretched too thin for the parts of the project they are responsible for. There should also be indicators to visualize each person, their responsibilities, and where those tasks fit in the timeline of the project. If someone needs to complete their part of the project before the baton can be passed to a team member for their leg of the project, this should be well documented so there are no surprises. A visual tracking system should be used so that everyone can see where the overall project stands, and if assistance should be given to help overcome obstacles if someone is stuck. JIRA is my preferred tool for Task Management.
Timeline Graphics
As useful as whiteboards are for hashing out project discussions during meetings, they have their limitations. Not only can they be erased rather easily, but they are stationary and cannot effectively communicate as team members spread out to work, whether it be in the office or remote. Although there are many learning styles, timeline graphics are crucial in being able to communicate across disabilities, languages, and preferences of communication. They are clear, concise, and flexible enough to adjust as the project stretches onward.
Office Timeline can do all of this, and more. With the ability to professionally assemble visual guides, clients and consultants alike can understand the project plan and progress as it unfolds. There are no more surprises, and whether it is a simple gantt chart or swimlane slides, the details are well illustrated enough to understand both task and resource allocation. It’s also a breeze for consultants to use, and with a simple import of excel data and choosing of a template, the project is displayed quickly and effectively. Office Timeline is my preferred tool for Timeline Graphics (www.OfficeTimeline.com).
This list provides a starting point to find the tool(s) that will allow you and your team a great start to any project.
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