Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts with the label Project Management

From Hot Mess to On Top: Simple Project Management Systems for Freelancers

Confession time! Not long ago, my project management system was a hot mess. Picture sticky notes everywhere on my laptop, my fridge, just everywhere! Projects were slipping through the cracks, deadlines were missed, and my stress level was? Through the roof. Then I discovered simple project management tools , and my freelancer life changed dramatically. Step 1: Goodbye Sticky Notes, Hello Trello! The first game-changer was adopting Trello. Visual and intuitive, Trello boards replaced my chaotic sticky notes with neat, movable cards organized into lists: To-Do , In Progress , and Completed . The satisfaction of dragging a task from "In Progress" to "Completed"? Priceless! Step 2: Calendar Blocking Next, I integrated calendar blocking. Each task on Trello got a specific slot in my Google Calendar. This kept me accountable and ensured I was realistic about deadlines and workload. Step 3: Weekly Reviews Finally, I started conducting weekly reviews every Sunday. Spendin...

Essential Excel Text Functions for Administrative Freelancers

  For freelancers in administrative roles such as executive assistants or project managers, your work often involves data entry into spreadsheets and creating reports using tools like Excel and Google Sheets. Understanding key Excel functions that manipulate data can dramatically improve your efficiency and speed. Beyond basic mathematical operations, text functions are particularly valuable tools that can save you significant time and effort by automating tasks that would otherwise require tedious manual editing. Let's explore some of the most practical Excel text functions that make data manipulation a breeze! CONCATENATE: Joining Text Strings One of my favorite functions is CONCATENATE , which joins two or more text strings into one. Syntax:  =CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2) In this formula: A2 represents the column with the first string The double quotation marks with a space (" ") add a space between strings B2 represents the column with the second string ...

Task Management with the Eisenhower Decision Matrix

  Time management isn't just a skill for freelance executive assistants and project managers; it's your superpower. After all, how can you effectively manage your client's schedule if you're struggling with your own task management? Today, we're exploring the Eisenhower Decision Matrix, a game-changing tool for prioritizing tasks based on urgency and importance. What is the Eisenhower Matrix? Named after President Dwight D. Eisenhower (who knew a thing or two about managing priorities), this simple but powerful framework helps you sort tasks into four distinct categories. Think of it as your personal priority filter, separating what deserves your attention now from what can wait or be delegated. The Four Quadrants of Task Management 1. Urgent and Important (Do Now) These high-priority tasks need your immediate attention and carry significant consequences if neglected. They're your "drop everything and focus" tasks. Examples: Addressing a sudden clie...

An Executive Assistant’s Guide to Mastering Time Management

Time management skills are essential skills for freelancers offering executive assistance and project management services. Why? As an Executive Assistant, your role revolves around managing your client's schedule. Without essential time management skills, accomplishing this task becomes challenging. Executive Assistants and Project Managers must juggle multiple tasks simultaneously, highlighting the need for adept scheduling skills. Without proper scheduling, errors may occur, potentially affecting the project's timeline, leading to task delays, increased project costs, and other consequences. As an independent professional, effectively managing your time ensures that: You can meet Deadlines Meeting deadlines is essential for maintaining client satisfaction and building a good reputation. Effective time management enables you to allocate sufficient time to each task, ensuring that projects are completed on time. You will exceed client expectations Clients expect high-quality ...