8. Critical path analysis Feel like a cuppa Check you have teabags and milk Fill the kettle and switch on Put teabag into mug Find (clean) mug Pour boiling water onto tea and brew Add milk TIME
The important thing to remember with critical path analysis is that you need to make sure that you start working on the things that take the longest first – you can fit shorter and quicker tasks around them.
You want everything to be ready at the same time so start at the deadline, give yourself a week to faff about and redraft, and then count backwards. That way you will make sure the most important tasks get enough time and you won’t miss anything out. USE A DIARY OR A CALENDAR OR A WALL PLANNER AND MARK HAND-IN DATES ON IT – BE AWARE OF WHAT DAY IT IS TODAY!
Set yourself goals and work out an action plan to meet them – all the smaller steps that add up to the larger goal. Your goal must be SMART: well-defined (what, where, who and how); have a clear target for success so you know when you’ve done it; take into account all your resources, including knowledge and time; link it to your other goals; and have a deadline to work towards.