Here we go again, Resource Planning tips 4 & 5 that you can do right now, no budget, no changes to tech or sign off from others. If you’re wondering where tips 1 to 3 are then check out my blog here.
If tips 1 to 3 inspired you to take note these should inspire you to take action.
Accuracy
It goes without saying accuracy is paramount to Resource Planning, but allowing accuracy to take over all you do will limit the value of your support.
Accuracy is often about having time to check you understand and have the correct information to make your plans viable to your customer, not just avoiding making any mistakes. Here are some tips to help you make that balance:
Predictions – you can not predict the exact future, so stop trying to, instead help other prepare for the future, if not you can only be wrong or lucky
Self check – it’s not a mistake if you spot it before sharing anything, make sure you have time in your work schedule to conduct necessary checks in both data and how your reports read and what benefit they will give
Governance – yes It’s a bore, but following the correct processes and using the correct tools will minimise the change of making a mistake
Sell yourself and what you share – it’s happened to us all, we’ve noticed a mistake in what we are sharing, so we point that out to our audience, don’t do that as the chances are they may not notice and its impact is minimal if noticed at all. Think about selling your car, you’d not point out the bad bits first would you?
Learning - as painful as mistakes feel they are also opportunities to learn and improve both what you do and how you do it, here's a way to help to categorise and improve the situation:
Remember you are human, so mistakes can and will still happen, it’s how you deal with them that you need to focus upon, it’s why some people look perfect and unstoppable, but the truth is...they are not.
Approachability
Finally, but no less important, is being someone others can and want to talk to. The previous tips lead here so please consider them because being a “nice person” is not what I mean.
Take ownership – give others a reason to approach you
Give solutions – give others a benefit to approaching you
Listen with empathy – you are like a sounding board or a therapist, certainly not a punishment
Stand beside them – not against them, despite the best plans the results may not be as desired, never exit the room when questions are asked about why and what
Make time – as a Resource Planner you can not stand behind time as a reason to say no, reorganise rather than excuse or refuse
Speak sparingly – often people want to share, they don’t want solutions before they have finished, being too keen frustrates people, especially why they don’t feel listened to by others
Keep your promises – if you say you’ll do something then you must do it, that’s not the same as always being able to help, so take part responsibility even if it’s to rule things out rather than solve them
Enjoy your job – it’s easy to spot someone who is “turning the wheel” rather than meeting the challenges of the role, if you show enthusiasm other will follow and brains will join up and things will happen, your welfare will benefit
I hope all 5 tips helped inspire you to act even if some are your bread and butter can you inspire those around you? As I said none require a budget, changes to tech or sign off from others, so it’s up to you.
If you’d like further support in making improvements to yourself and your Resource Planning please take at look at Select Planning’s Modular Planning Review or contact myself or my colleague Adrian where you’ll find both affordable and bespoke solutions to help you.