In school, I had a different notebook for every subject with its own to-do list. On top of that, I had separate to-do lists for hobbies and even my chores. While I felt hyper-organised, I kept missing due dates, consistently ran late and always forgot to do the dishes. This method wasn’t working because I didn’t have one consolidated list with everything on it.
Project Management Software (or PMS) is like that master to-do list for your small business. It allows you to track all of this in one place. In other words, PMS allows you to see the bigger picture of your operation and better organise your workflow.
PM Systems for Small Service Businesses
Project Management systems give you a macro view of your organization and allow you to map out your whole project plan before you even get started.
When you can see the next steps of every project and how they interact, you can make better, faster and more effective decisions.
For small businesses that focus on providing services, this is extremely important.
To provide quality service, small business owners need to be able to juggle multiple projects at a time. You may be like me and have many different clients with various needs and their own timelines. PM software lets you systematically complete all your deliverables without switching focus between projects or clients.
This master blueprint allows you to stay on schedule and budget, hold yourself and others accountable for their work, and create actionable insights into your performance.
3 Ways to Tell if Your Business Needs Better PMS
1. All your moving parts are at a standstill. If your small business has a lot of moving parts, but they don’t seem to be going anywhere, you may need better task management or project management systems.
Project Management software will allow you to see where your choke points are and give you a better idea of how to get things moving. Whether the solution is delegation, better time management or shifting priorities, you will be able to quickly pivot to fix the problem.
2. You spend more time creating to-do lists than doing the work. As my highschool boss once said, “do the job, don’t let the job do you.” When you spend more time managing a project than actually getting the work done, it might be time to invest in project management software.
PMS allows you to create repeatable tasks, dependencies and even automation that allows you to focus on delivering a quality experience to your client.
3. Many hands are not making light work. Good Project Management Software allows you to assign particular tasks to your team members in a clear and organized way. All too often, small business owners find themselves redoing the work their employees hand over, or simple tasks make their way through multiple people before landing where it needs to be.
PMS allows you to divide, conquer, and track all of the deliverables required. Having this bigger picture allows everyone to see how their work interacts with the project as a whole, giving them a clear understanding of what needs to be done.
Is It Time to Ditch the To-Do Lists?
Whether you’re facing any of these three challenges or are hoping to avoid them altogether, it is time to look into Project Management Software. The good news is - there is software available for all budgets and business sizes! If all you can afford right now is free, there are several platforms to choose from. So ditch the lists, consolidate your tasks, and never forget to do the dishes again… unless you want to.
If you are interested in upgrading your to-do lists, contact us for a free consultation to find out which solution is right for you!