Good Communication

Keep all tasks and milestones on a single calendar

Report at least a weekly status update including:

Accomplishments
Budget updates
Budget variations
Project issues

Manage email by:

Keeping messages to a minimum
Create categories
Keep emails short
Use bullet points
Create different emails for different topics
Use the ABC approach
- Action Summary
- Background
- Closure

Email Responses

Confirm understanding specifically

Send status reports as email updates, but plan verbal contact too

Situations where it’s better to use the phone include:

Establishing a relationship
Terms changes
Sensitive subjects
Complex issues

Implementation Plan

Download Implementation Plan Template

Action Steps:

Using your project plan, add in communications using your tool of choice, or the template provided. Be sure to include the following for communication:

What frequency will you use to track your project? Weekly, bi-weekly?
What frequency will you communicate to your project sponsor? Weekly, bi-weekly?
How will you communicate with your project sponsor? Email? Phone?
If you use email, under what circumstances will you phone instead?

Using your calendar tool of choice, add in any key project deliverables and communication touch points.

Draft a sample project update email or modify the example email in this module.

Module 4 – How to Develop an Implementation Plan to Monitor Your Progress