The Project Checklist Every PM Needs (And Every Sponsor Should Be Looking For)

Imagine Baking A Cake...A Really Really Super Career-Impacting Wedding Cake...
At this point, I have received eight requests from followers to articulate a sound checklist that every Project Manager should employ to ensure that complete project alignment.  This type of checklist is invaluable if you are:

• A sponsor who wants to ensure all Ts are crossed
• A newly appointed PM to an existing project
• A new PM who is looking to ensure that they havent left anything off the docket

I strongly encourage you to put these list into you standard practice.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Has the scope of the project been completely defined?
2. Do you know the project requirements?
3. Is there a solid project plan?
4. Do you have the resources and suitable team members required?
5. Do you have a way to track, manage and mitigate progress?
6. Do you have a format that offers a suitable progress report? Do you have alignment on update frequency?
7. Has the format for the progress review meetings been set and aligned?
8. Do you have the means and resources to manage internal/external dependencies?
9. Do you have an iron-clad contingency plan?
10. Do you need help from your sponsor?
11. Are all team members working well together?
12. Do you have a way to manage quick wins?
13. Do you feel comfortable about how to rollout deliverables and finish the project? Will you know when the project is 'done'
14. Are you comfortable that you have the resources in place to optimize what you learn throughout the life of the project?
15. Do you have a way to manage assumptions and issues (document, track, measure and evaluate)?
16. Do you have a credible change control process documented and in place?
17. Do you have a process in place to manage the expectations of  all shareholders?
18. Is there an appropriate level of administrative support in place to aid the project?
19. Do you have the right project performance indicators in places? Are they SMART?
20. Do you understand the more advanced PM tools being used? Do you have duplicate resources in place to support should a main resource depart?
21. Do you have a strategy in place to manage multiple project priorities? Has there been a strategy put in place to manage multiple priorities?
22. Do you have a plan in place that will allow you to manage and communicate benefits realization as they emerge?  Can this data be compared to the business case?

If you are a Project Manager currently leading an initiative and you answered "NO" to any of the questions shown above, put all other tasks aside and delve into addressing the gap quickly.  You will be glad that you did! And if you need any help with addressing these key issues, I am available to support you.
If you answered "YES" to everything on this list, then you certainly don't need me! Consider yourself on a firm footing for success!