In today's world, many operations once performed by specialists are assigned to administrative professionals as 'projects.' Unfortunately, few administrative professionals receive training or tools to help them manage projects efficiently and effectively. The 'project' is added to an already full schedule, major decisions have been made elsewhere, and you have no 'team' to carry out the work. Learn to use simple tools to plan and manage projects successfully providing stakeholders with the results they expect.
Learn to use basic project management skills and tools, to get better results on any assignment, especially those outside your usual job description. Continually improve your existing skills in project management, communication, understanding human nature, and working across organizational lines as you gain experience. Take a deeper dive into current project management standards and learn to use more sophisticated tools. All of this can be overwhelming on top of your many responsibilities and priorities.
Develop a plan to integrate new skills and tools systematically and use references for your own continuous improvement. Refine your organizational skills to keep your projects on time, on budget, and on target. Master planning, executing, reviewing, and revising plans, making the difference between success and failure.
Put your skills to work getting the different stakeholders to provide information or direction and to show up for important milestones along the way. Hone your organizational skills, communicate even more effectively, avoid major project pitfalls, and work with others to meet project deadlines and objectives. Build on your fundamental knowledge and expand your capacity to balance day-to-day work and these special assignments.
Context for Project Management
Project Initiation
Planning and Scheduling
Cost Management
Human Resource and Communication Plan
Project Execution, Monitoring, and Control
Project Closure
Risk Management
You are already doing more than you thought possible and here comes this "extra" assignment. Instead of being overwhelmed, set the work up as a project, manage it using an approach with a track record of success, and get the results your management requires. Hone your existing skills and build on them. You'll apply what you learn to rest of your assignment, becoming more productive, and still have time to think about how to improve the overall performance of your area of administrative responsibility. You do not have to reinvent the wheel or rely on a "To-Do" list to get the results being demanded of you. You'll have access to resources which you can adapt to your specific situation.