Project Management for Admins

This on-demand course includes four session recordings, approximately 60 minutes each; a workbook for each session; and a course certificate.

This course provides admins with the foundational skills needed to establish your own project management system and deliver consistent, valuable, and meaningful results. The course provides the templates, processes, and tools needed to kick-start your journey. At the end of the course, you’ll be able to recognize the power of project management! 

Session 1: Project Initiation – Let’s Kick-Off the Project! 

Many of us have worked on projects that were confusing or chaotic, or we didn’t understand what the project was about. You can change that experience by starting with this session. 

Initiation is the most important phase of the project lifecycle. In this stage, the project is clearly defined with objectives, deliverables, and, most importantly, how this project will benefit the organization. 

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the key elements of a project lifecycle and how to identify the critical players, or stakeholders, that will be engaged in the project effort. 
• Establish a solid approach for your project activities that you will be able to use to organize and plan your project moving forward. This approach will be sustainable and repeatable, which will drive consistency on the projects that you lead. This will be your personal project management system. 
• This session will introduce you to a Project Toolkit that you will use for your future projects and will help in the development of your project management system, elevating your project success. 

 
Session 2: Project Planning for Success

The Planning phase is the longest phase of the project lifecycle, with good reason. If a project is not thoroughly planned, this will result in additional risks, surprises, rework, poor quality, and most likely a failed project. 

The Planning phase is particularly important because we dive into the details of the project as a team to determine what work needs to be completed, when the work needs to be completed, and by whom. We also develop a communication plan for the project activities, as well as the quality of the project deliverable, potential risks, and the needs of the stakeholders. 

Learning Objectives:

• How to effectively plan, and sequence, the work efforts associated with the project. 
• Identification and documentation of the best communication methods that will be the most meaningful for the project and the key stakeholders. 
• Discuss the identified risks and determine the most effective response should those risks arise. 
• Establish the quality criteria for the project deliverable and determine the measures associated with those criteria. 
• Determine the best approach to managing the changes that will be introduced by the project deliverable and how best to prepare the stakeholders for those changes. 

 
Session 3: Project Execution – Getting the Work Done!

This phase of the project lifecycle focuses on getting the work done! The Planning phase provides a valuable footprint on which the work will be completed. During the Execution phase, the project will be progressing as planned and, if any issues arise, they will be addressed immediately based on the discussions that took place during the Planning phase. 

Learning Objectives:

• How the completed planning elements integrate with the work activities and the progression of the project. 
• Techniques for tracking and monitoring project work and troubleshooting any issues that may arise. 
• Discussion of some of the common challenges associated with project work and the best approaches to addressing those challenges. 
• Recommendations on how to work with project teams to increase team collaboration, commitment, engagement, and communication. 
• The various triggers that can help in moving the project to the last phase of the lifecycle – Closing. 

 
Session 4: Project Closure – It’s a Wrap! 

The Closing phase is just as important as the other phases of the lifecycle. The project needs to be officially “closed” so that the project team can move on to other work, the project deliverable can be operationalized, the budget can be closed out, and the Lessons Learned during this project can be shared with your colleagues for discussion and review. 

If a project is not officially closed, there will always be questions as to the status of the project. Make it official and close the project! 

Learning Objectives:

• How to review the project components to determine if the project is ready for closure. 
• Identify the communication channels, and messaging, that would be best for this stage of the project. 
• Determination of when the project will be officially closed, and the process steps required for a meaningful delivery of the project objectives. 
• The effective use of the Lessons Learned activity as a learning exercise and discussion forum for process improvements. 

 
Hot Tip: What’s your project style? Kick-off the development of your project management system by noting how you contribute to projects today. Can you contribute in other ways? How? This activity will help you make an informed decision on the next steps in building your own project management system.

About Mary Beth Imbarrato: Mary Beth Imbarrato, PMP, CSM, SPP, CMS has more than 25 years of experience in project management and has managed various project efforts in many different market segments, which has helped her clients become better project managers and better leaders.

Mary Beth enjoys sharing her passion, experiences, and expertise as a trainer, published author, speaker, and consultant. She’s been sharing the power of project management with admins around the world who are looking to elevate their level of success with their projects. It’s through this work that she continues to be a strong advocate for the administrative professional community.