Minimizing Additional Costs and Delays

The key to accountability is getting team members to hold themselves and each other responsible for solving the minor problems and keeping their part of the track. The good news, increasing accountability starts with just three simple steps.  First, plan with your team, not for your team, schedule a regular planning meeting with a whole section in the same room. So team members aren’t just making commitments to the boss; they’re making commitments to each other. They’ll check each other and hold each other accountable to deadlines. Next, when you plan, focus your team on nailing down what they’re going to get done. Next week, next week is short term enough to make real commitments and accurate estimates that team members can hold one another accountable. So, focusing responsibilities on that window reduces excuses for missing deadlines. Finally, keep accountability. Top of Mind, by making the plan they create accessible anywhere, anytime, a visual reminder of the commitments they’ve made focuses team members on how their work affects every other part of the plan. When problems come up, team members spend less time passing the book and finding solutions.

Most companies suffer the problem of unexpected delays. Project managers must understand how delays creep in and how they should prevent them or deal with them when they occur. Delays add cost to the project and damage the company’s reputation. Indeed, you can take steps to mitigate delays, and they are;

 

a)  Set realistic goals for your project

Setting realistic goals plays a significant role in project completion and meeting targets. It’s good to be confirmed with the allotted time and resources. Clear on what is expected of the project and measurable by setting quantifiable indicators.

b)  Hold a team meeting

Communicate the vision of the company and ensure everyone understands their roles and purpose of the project. Try setting milestones and come up with ways the milestones will be measured.

c)  Gather the right resources

Considering the limited resources offered to complete a project, it is prudent to gather them and come up with ways they will be utilized. The most important resource is the team members. Assess and identify their strengths and weaknesses to be able to allocate tasks properly.do not neglect the material resources required for your project.

d)  Schedule carefully

A project schedule details the project timeline and the organization required at every stage of the project. It helps divide tasks among the individuals at every 0stage of the project. The schedule should be available to every project member since it provides clarity.

e)  Track and measure progress

It is essential to set goals but to measure the plans, and you need to collect data. To track and measure your project progress towards the set goals. It helps increase transparency and accountability to the project members.

 

Forecast

Team members could be predicting the results of a project. Forecasting takes into account project risks and often takes the opportunity to course-correct before the project is delayed.

Effective communication in project management ensures everybody is on the same page, helping minimize delays.

Emmanuel Addo
Founder

Emmanuel Addo is the founder of the Young Global Leaders Network, an international non-governmental organization registered in six (6) countries namely, Ghana, United Kingdom, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Democratic Republic of Congo, and South Sudan and has a membership strength of over 15,000 young black professionals, students, graduates, and aspiring leaders.

The organization also operates in 25 other African countries. Emmanuel also doubles as the chief convener and founder of the Young African Leaders Summit, one of the largest continental youth summits in Africa.  

Currently works at Kingston University as a Business Engagement Team Member in their Partnerships and Engagement Department. 

He characterizes energy, integrity, result-oriented, and ground-breaking service in each detail of strategic management, change management, stakeholder management, and leadership acquaintances.
Emmanuel owns a core background in Sociology and Psychology from the University of Ghana.

Leveraging his experience as a youth activist and a dynamic young man, Emmanuel founded the Young Global Leaders Network, a youth organization that comprises young diplomats, young politicians, and aspiring politicians, business/entrepreneurial business leaders with the aim of championing a mutual agenda for the African youth and promoting youth participation in governance as well as promoting entrepreneurial culture.
Emmanuel nurtures an environment of teamwork and has expertise in data collection and analysis as well as both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Emmanuel worked as an Associate Lecturer at the London College of Advanced Management where he delivered a wide range of business management courses that involved principles of marketing, leadership, operation management, and research methods. Emmanuel has always maintained high teaching and learning standards to ensure that his students’ stand out in academic achievements and successful progression. As a stout believer and passionate key player in volunteering; Emmanuel creates quality time to giving back gladly to his community what he has learned and to educate individuals with free consultancy on career development. He is a leader anyone would love to look up to and with great integrity, commitment, and passion to make the world a better place.
Emmanuel worked as Qualifications Manager at the Open University in the UK.

Emmanuel is also the founder of Kickstart Innovation Hub Ltd, the entrepreneurial hub of Young Global Leaders Network.