Unlock Project Success: Avoid These Common WBS Mistakes
The Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) is the backbone of your project – a powerful tool that can either make or break your success. But are you truly using it to its full potential?
Many project managers unknowingly make common WBS mistakes – some of which prevent you from fully leveraging its power, while others can derail team efficiency.
Let’s dive into a couple of the biggest pitfalls that might be holding you back, and more importantly, how to avoid them. Your WBS should be a roadmap to success, not a project roadblock!
Mistake One: Not Aligning Your WBS with Project Scope
Without clear alignment with your project’s scope, your WBS can quickly become a jumble of tasks that don’t directly contribute to your project’s goals. The key to success is ensuring that every task on your WBS ties back to your project’s objectives.
By staying true to the project scope, you’ll keep your team focused on what matters most and avoid wasting time on irrelevant tasks.
Mistake Two: Breaking Down Deliverables Clearly
A common mistake many project managers make is not fully breaking down deliverables within the WBS. A well-structured WBS goes beyond listing tasks – it should outline deliverables and also break them down into smaller, actionable tasks.
When you clearly break down project deliverables in your WBS, it helps you and your team stay on track, monitor progress, and identify potential roadblocks before they become issues.
Want to Avoid Even More WBS Mistakes?
These are just two of the mistakes that can impact the efficiency of your project. In my latest YouTube video, I dive into more WBS mistakes you’ll want to avoid. I talk about:
How to involve the right stakeholders in building your WBS.
Why you should always update your WBS throughout the project.
The best practices for using your WBS as a communication tool for team accountability.
Check out the full video to learn how to avoid these pitfalls and make the most of your WBS in every project.
Follow me over to YouTube and we’ll keep chatting about this!
Cheers,
Adriana Girdler, PMP | Creator of Slay Project Management™
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