21 essential tips for managing your own project

1 KNOW YOUR OWN STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

An obvious but overlooked point — when building you should try to use the best resources to realise your scheme. That includes choosing where to make your own contribution. If you are not the best person to manage other people, perhaps consider using a third party (a main contractor or professional project manager). If you tend to avoid conflict, maybe project management is not for you. If you relish conflict… maybe the same applies! Either way, it’s good to assess your appetite for and ability to undertake the role before taking the plunge.

2 FOCUS ON BUDGET

Your budget is not something to be put in a drawer and be forgotten — for nearly every project, the budget is the only thing that cannot increase, and as such it is vital that every time you spend money or make a saving you refer back to the budget and assess the impact of your choices. Think of your cost plan and budget as