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Project and Time Management

Employers in various sectors often seek candidates with attributes related to project and time management, such as organizational skills, multitasking, budgeting abilities, and the ability to prioritize and meet deadlines. [] Mastering these skills has a direct impact on career success and work-life balance, as well as resolving problems and conflicts in order to keep a project on track.Ìý[] Project management skills are considered prerequisites to a leader’s success. In fact, management skills often overlap with leadership skills, as both involve problem solving, decision making, planning, delegation, communication, and time management. []Ìý

Time management skills are not only important in the workplace, but they are also necessary during your studies, and to help you manage your personal commitments and interests. From a psychological perspective, efficient time use has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety. []ÌýSeeking co-curricular activities and experiences on- and off-campus will help develop and demonstrate these particular management skills.Ìý

Jump to section: Quick Guide to Project and Time ManagementÌý| Building Your Skills |ÌýReferences

Quick Guide to Project and Time Management

Project Management

  1. Have a long-term strategic vision of your project and set goals and milestones accordingly
  2. Display forward thinking and anticipate dealing with the unexpected
  3. Develop troubleshooting strategies if your project gets sidetracked
  4. Establish your own personalized time management system: prioritize tasks, switch focus between projects/tasks to deliver on schedule, and balance constraints (cost, scope, time) []
  5. Conduct a thorough risk analysis and management for yourself, your team and others involved
  6. Assess your current workload and commitments before taking on new projects

Time Management

  1. Be self-aware, identify your most and least effective habits and ways of working
  2. Structure your time by allocating adequate periods for activities and breaks
  3. Set goals, make task lists, and prioritize following the SMART criteria []
  4. Experiment with different digital or paper planning tools (e.g., Outlook or Google Calendar, kanban boards, productivity apps, bullet point to-do lists, paper agenda)
  5. Use strategies to overcome procrastination; for some suggestions.

Ìý

Building Your Project and Time Management Skills

There are many ways to build skills in project and time management. Find free and paid workshops & courses; project management and volunteer opportunities where you can put your skills into action; as well as websites, apps, videos, and more to help you grow your skills.

Workshops and Courses

SKILLSETS - Project Management Series:
  • Learn the essential elements of successful project planning and the distinguishing characteristics of high performers. You may be surprised at your findings!
Wellness Hub – Skills for Strategic Procrastination:
  • Take a heads-on approach to addressing procrastination.
Mitacs -Ìý:
  • Includes regular and online project & time management for advanced degree graduates.
91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓÆµ School of Continuing Studies - Project Management Courses:
  • A variety of course selections, including credit and non-credit in addition to certificate programs ($).
91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓÆµ Executive Institute – :
  • Continuous improvement and project management methodology tailored to corporate executives & professionals ($)

Opportunities

Volunteer Opportunities at 91Ë¿¹ÏÊÓÆµ: :
  • Join and Volunteer with your local project management association
:
  • Apply for funding, and practice how to design and implement an environmentally- or socially-focused project.

Websites, Apps and Videos

Websites

Student Success and Achievement - Time Management Learning Guide:
  • Strategies to help you improve your time management skills.
:
  • One-stop resource for project managers for webinars, templates, tools, practice areas for agile and risk management.
:
  • A popular blog for practical solutions, templates and advice on project management.
:
  • Website with resources and tips on productivity.
:
  • This site provides trends or insights from project management gurus.

Apps

:
  • #1 ranked productivity app.

Videos

Student Success and Achievement -
  • 30-second video clip on what Time Management is all about.
University Affairs -
  • 3-minute video given by a senior consultant at Direct Corporate Solutions.

Groups and Associations

Project Management Institute - Montreal Chapter
  • .
Project Management Association of Canada
International Project Management Association

Literature on Project Management

  • Horine, G. (2005). Absolute beginner's guide to project management. Indianapolis, Ind: Que.
  • Ferraro, J. (2012). Project management for non-project managers. New York, NY: AMACOM.
  • Project Management Institute. (2013). A guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK guide), fifth edition. Newtown Square, Pa: Project Management Institute.  
  • Berkun, S. (2008). Making things happen: Mastering project management. Beijing: O'Reilly.
  • Schmidt, T. (2009). Strategic project management made simple: Practical tools for leaders and teams. Hoboken, N.J: John Wiley & Sons.

Literature on Time Management

  • Allen, D. (2015). Getting things done: The art of stress-free productivity.
  • Covey, SR et al. (2003). First things first: to live, to love, to learn, to leave a legacy.
  • Pozen, R. C. (2012). Extreme Productivity: Boost Your Results, Reduce Your Hours.
  • Tracy, B. (2017). Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time.
  • Clear, J. (2018). Atomic habits : tiny changes, remarkable results : an easy &Ìýproven way to build good habits &Ìýbreak bad ones.

References

1ÌýÌý Denecke et al. (2017).Ìý

2ÌýÌý Vitae. (2025).Ìý

3ÌýÌý Doyle, A. (2018).Ìý

4ÌýÌý Kelly, W.E. (2003).

5ÌýÌý PMI (2003).Ìý

6ÌýÌý Haughey, D. (2017) Ìý

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