Have you noticed how every project that we take on in marketing tends to lead to five more responsibilities over the long haul? It's not just putting together the new website...you have to optimize the site, and create new content, and translate the pages, and...and...and... It just grows and grows. It just doesn't feel as if I can completely cross anything off my list anymore.
We're currently releasing a new training site on our systems (that I've been promising for years, but finally am now knocking it off the list). It's not just the months we've spent creating the content that took time away from other projects we could have (should have?) been completing. It's the future projects it has created. Sending out training packets to new customers, adding content as new machines are released, updating the site with more training sessions...and who takes all of this on? The staff numbers don't expand, so we fit in the added responsibilities. Add these new tasks to our lists and move on to the next project.
In a mid-sized business, there is nothing more important than starting a project with all of the future projects set out at the start. Don't just assign tasks to get the job done - assign what will have to be done after the project is complete. Don't wait until you're 95% done to decide who is going to be taking on the responsibilities. If you are managing a project that can grow out of control, write down every possible project that this one will create and who will be responsible after the project is finished. If you start with the end in mind, it will help keep your staff prepared for what they have ahead of them (and help keep you sane.)
Okay, now on to the next project...
