Project management can be totally overwhelming. Meetings, problems, people, deadlines and oh, so many emails. With all that going on, it is easy to get overwhelmed with all the things you need to do and start falling behind. This is where your RAID log becomes more than a document – it becomes a methodology.
The goal of your RAID log is to help you keep operationally aware and on top of your projects. It is more than a document – it is your PM superpower.
Reviewing your RAID log should be your quiet moment where you get your head together and plan your day or week. The key is planning ahead and giving yourself time to review your RAID log. If you don’t plan it in advance and time-box a part of your work week to it, RAID review is the kind of thing that gets put aside and becomes another thing you fall behind on.
Weekly Review
At the minimum, block some time on Friday morning, first thing before you open your email to review and update your RAID once per week. This will give you an opportunity to make your updates from the week’s accomplishments, plan for the next week and get your updates in line for your weekly status report if you do that kind of thing.
Sidebar: Your RAID should be your “good morning” application. Block off quiet time to focus on your RAID items before opening your mailbox to the chaos of the day
Daily Check-in
If you are going to go all in with your RAID log, then go with a daily review – especially if you have a heavy project load or projects on fire. First thing in the morning, before you open Outlook and while your first cup of coffee is still hot, open your RAID log (or logs if you manage multiple projects), and do a quick run-through. Identify ‘must do’ items for the day and either block time for them on your calendar, or write them on your to-do list or post-it notes.
