never rush the process

I found out the hard way why the process should not be rushed.  I have been doing some what I call, “adventure running” lately, which for me means leaving the house, start running, and see where I end up.  This morning I got up at five and felt like I needed to get out and moving so I scarfed a piece of toast, drank a full bottle of water, and didn’t stretch properly.  The result was a terrible, cramped run that was not as much an adventure as it was a couple of hours wishing I was at home in bed.

There is a reason you take your time making sure everything is done correctly before a run, and the same is true in business.  Your organization has a way it does something and when you rush that process, the end product is never as good as it could be.  Here are a few reasons we rush the process and how not to do it.

Time Crunch

We have all been there; work is coming down and you have less and less time to get it done.  So what happens?  A process along the way gets pushed to quickly and what comes out doesn’t look very good.  Sometimes there is nothing you can do, no amount of planning can prepare for something jumping into the middle of your project.  How do you handle it?  Often times it is smart to admit defeat and recreate your project schedule accordingly.  Yes your boss or client might be annoyed but they will be angrier if the product does not turn out well.

Preparation

One of the best ways to avoid a rush in the process is proper preparation.  If you can project and plan, it is less likely that your project will find itself hanging in the world of schedule conflict.

Laziness

Projects often fall apart because people don’t complete the tasks assigned to them at the appropriate time; and sometimes that is because people are lazy.  Part of being a good project manager is finding what motivates people and using those tools to get the results you need to insure you don’t have to rush your process.  If you are someone who is assigned with a task and find that you are having problems completing it on time, talk with you project manager.  Communication is always the key to a good relationship.  It you have a good project manager, he or she should help find a solution to help keep you on the right path.

Remember that the work that you provide is a reflection of who you are as an organization.  Take the time to plan, set your team, and have a strong communication strategy set with your clients.  Doing these things correctly will almost certainly ensure that your project will be completed on time and on budget.