{"id":3321,"date":"2022-04-25T10:23:42","date_gmt":"2022-04-25T14:23:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/?p=3321"},"modified":"2023-07-09T05:07:40","modified_gmt":"2023-07-09T09:07:40","slug":"project-roadmap-template","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/project-roadmap-template\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Create a Project Roadmap Template"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a project manager, your job is to see the entire project reach 100% completion. To get there, you\u2019ll need strategic, expert communication that generates alignment on your project right from the beginning. What do you need to make that happen? <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A project roadmap template is the best tool available to help you do exactly that.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project roadmap probably won\u2019t make it on the cool-kid list of the most popular <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/project-charts\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project management charts<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. But it might just be one of the most significant in helping you <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/biz30.timedoctor.com\/virtual-team-building\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lead your team<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> across the finish line.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This article has everything you need to create a project roadmap template for any project. After reading, you will:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Know what a project roadmap is and why it\u2019s important;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Be able to describe the difference between the project roadmap and the project plan;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Understand the key elements of a project roadmap;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get started on building your very own project roadmap template today;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Feel confident to present the overview of any project to key stakeholders.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s get started.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is a Project Roadmap?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A project roadmap is a concise, high-level overview of a project that includes milestones, deliverables, and a timeline among other elements. It\u2019s a visual representation of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">what<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will happen and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it will happen in the project. It should also be a real-time indicator of what\u2019s going on at any point in the project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because a roadmap focuses on the big picture, it\u2019s the primary tool that communicates the strategic vision for the project. It can also be an integral piece to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/recruitee.com\/articles\/effective-teams#4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">helping your team be as effective as possible<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as they work together.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project Roadmap vs. Project Plan\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s the difference between a project roadmap and a project plan? They aren\u2019t the same thing, but they are related.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put simply, a project roadmap is a high-level view of your project while a project plan is a detailed view of the project. Let\u2019s take a closer look at each.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/how-to-deliver-a-successful-project-execution-plan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The project plan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a detailed document that outlines the who, what, when, where, and how of the project. It\u2019s one very large document that actually consists of several smaller documents, such as the project charter, the statement of work, contracts, the scope management plan, the quality management plan, the schedule management plan, the cost management plan, and so on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some ways, the project roadmap is a visual summary of the project plan. It takes the essential elements of the plan and provides a bite-size, big picture view so that the team and key stakeholders can find relevant information quickly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The roadmap is important for communication, but keep in mind that it\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/whatagraph.com\/monthly-report-template\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reporting tool<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, per se. Think of the roadmap more like a <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reference<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tool for a status update of the project at any one point in time. It\u2019s there for when someone on the project needs an immediate check-in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On the other hand, anyone who needs to know about the finer details of any aspect of the project can consult the project plan when necessary.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Kind of Projects Need a Roadmap?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s tempting to think you can skip over creating a roadmap. After all, who needs a simple document that only contains high-level information? As we showed above, it\u2019s helpful to start with the roadmap before building the detailed project plan. It\u2019s also helpful <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.twine.net\/blog\/importance-of-diversity-in-workplace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">for your team<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and stakeholders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But does every project need a roadmap?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Any project with specific goals, a budget, a timeline, and multiple stakeholders should use a project roadmap. And let\u2019s be honest: that\u2019s most projects!\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your roadmap gives everyone involved a quick, clear picture of the defined scope, cost factors, criteria, requirements, communication expectations, and any risks facing the project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, if you are a company like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/lawrank.com\/services\/seo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">LawRank<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that provides <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.howtowriteseo.com\/seo\/new-to-seo-read-this-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SEO services<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to clients, you would need a project roadmap to highlight the main focuses of your plan for each client\u2013what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spinxdigital.com\/guides\/best-website-design-companies\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">web design<\/a> is going to suit this company\u2019s branding, what content you should create for the client\u2019s blog, how you can optimize their on-site optimization, and much more.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just like a reliable map when you\u2019re on a road trip, the roadmap makes for easier navigation as you go through the project.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So let\u2019s ask it again: what kind of projects need a roadmap?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your project does!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Are the Key Elements of a Project Roadmap?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When creating a project roadmap, remember that there isn\u2019t a one size fits all approach. As the Project Manager, you get to take control and craft it in such a way that the design makes the most sense for you and your team. However, there are several basic elements that you should include in your roadmap for it to have maximum effectiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Objectives. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What was the glorious, dynamic benefit your sales team <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterproposals.io\/blog\/how-to-write-a-business-proposal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">promised to the customer in the first place<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? That\u2019s your objective. It\u2019s the \u201cwhy\u201d behind everything that happens in the project.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Deliverables. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is the end-user ultimately receiving? Deliverables are those tangible things that enable the objective to be accomplished.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Milestones &amp; Timeline. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stakeholders will be interested to know how the project is tracking over time and if you are ahead, on, or behind schedule. For example, if you own an eCommerce company, they would be interested in knowing the answers to questions like:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How is your team dealing with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skubana.com\/blog\/order-management\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">order management<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are they meeting deadlines and delivering orders within the promised timeframe?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Resources. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who is doing what? (And when\u2013check the timeline!) If there\u2019s a change in personnel or additions\/reductions, this will be updated to reflect those new realities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Budget. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stakeholders, executives, and customers need a quick status update on how the project is doing financially.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Dependencies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Are there certain things that must be completed first before another activity begins?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Risks. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some project managers may not think to add these to a roadmap, but risks are important enough that they should be included. Your stakeholders are spending hundreds of thousands, sometimes millions, of dollars on this project. Risks are important and shouldn\u2019t be overlooked.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This might seem like a lot to put on a \u201chigh-level\u201d document. But you can do it rather easily, especially if you use the right software (we\u2019ll get to that in a second).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7 Steps to Create a Project Roadmap Template<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve looked at what a project roadmap is, what kind of projects use it, and what its main components are. At this point, putting together a project roadmap will be pretty straightforward. Let\u2019s look at seven steps that will help you create your very own project roadmap template that you can use on any project in any industry.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>When it comes to project meetings, remember that you can present your <a href=\"https:\/\/roadmunk.com\/roadmap-templates\/project-roadmap\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">project roadmap<\/a> as a timeline with swimlanes with the help of valuable productivity tools like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.officetimeline.com\/office-timeline\/14-days-trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Office Timeline add-in for PowerPoint<\/a>, which also offers free templates for project roadmaps in Excel and PowerPoint.<\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Choose the Right Project Management Software<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you want a project roadmap that works for you, then you need to find <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the right software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to help you build it. Of course, you could string together some colorful rows in Excel if you\u2019re doing small projects infrequently. But if you\u2019re handling moderate to major projects regularly, you\u2019ll need quality project management software to help you do the heavy lifting.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazyload aligncenter wp-image-3323 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Dependencies-1-1024x571.jpg\" data-orig-src=\"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Dependencies-1-1024x571.jpg\" alt=\"Project roadmap template view in Nifty\" width=\"1024\" height=\"571\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271024%27%20height%3D%27571%27%20viewBox%3D%270%200%201024%20571%27%3E%3Crect%20width%3D%271024%27%20height%3D%27571%27%20fill-opacity%3D%220%22%2F%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Dependencies-1-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Dependencies-1-768x428.jpg 768w, https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Dependencies-1-1024x571.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Dependencies-1-1536x856.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Dependencies-1.jpg 1672w\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-orig-sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Software can help you build multiple views and integrate various documents\/charts. Goodbye, messy spreadsheets. Hello, beauty, simplicity, and functionality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Complete the Project Planning Phase\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can\u2019t just create a roadmap out of thin air. Planning has to happen first. The project planning phase is the precursor to the roadmap. Think of it as the raw data that the roadmap uses, summarizes, and is finally communicated in that bite-sized format.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The planning phase <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/hive.com\/blog\/best-meeting-tools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">will include meetings<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with stakeholders and customers, research, scheduling, resource allocation, budget decisions, and receiving final approval. All of these steps help contribute to a successful project that aligns with the sponsor&#8217;s vision and overall objectives.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Create the Project Roadmap before the Full Project Plan<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As a project manager, you can build out the project documents however you choose, but you might find it helpful to start with the roadmap before completing the project plan. Why? Think of the roadmap as the forest and the plan as the trees. And you know how the saying goes: \u201cDon\u2019t lose the forest for the trees.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you understand the project\u2019s big picture, you\u2019ll be able to take that deep dive into every area of your project (\u201cthe trees\u201d). But if you don\u2019t see the overarching, strategic reason for the project in the first place, filling in the details will be difficult, if not impossible.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Identify Key Deliverables and Project Timeline<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To have a solid grasp of the key milestones and deliverables, project managers need to have a keen understanding of the process that\u2019s played out with the customer before the project launch. You might consider consulting the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/betterproposals.io\/blog\/project-proposal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project proposal<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from earlier in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/reply.io\/sales-automation-tools-2020\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the sales process<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, if your project creates a product or service that reaches an end-user beyond your key stakeholders and\/or customer, you\u2019ll want to make sure the stated deliverables <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/terakeet.com\/blog\/buyer-persona\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">align with the customer\u2019s buyer persona<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> created long before the project ever landed on your desk. Ignoring what\u2019s happened before the project officially began could be detrimental to its success.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Defining the timeline should be a straightforward process. With your team, plan out how long the project is expected to last and list the milestones on a calendar to create the timeline or use a <a href=\"https:\/\/venngage.com\/features\/timeline-infographics\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">timeline maker<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Create the First Draft of Your Roadmap<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Whether you\u2019ve worked on five projects or 500, you need a rough draft before the roadmap is finalized and approved. Using the tool of your choice, enter all the necessary data and place them on the timeline to get instant project tracking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember to create a realistic roadmap. As you begin to plot all the elements from the previous section, ask yourself if anything seems unlikely or impossible. Some things (like cost or even the schedule), you can\u2019t change. But whatever you can, work that into your first draft.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Invite Feedback<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you begin the project and begin pumping out deliverables, you need feedback from your stakeholders and customers. Take that amazing first draft you put together and share it with the primary decision-makers. The single most important question to answer is: does this roadmap meet their needs and expectations? To help stakeholders and customers answer that, you may need to ask:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is the big picture of the project looking like what you imagined?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are we hitting the defined scope of the project on time and within the budget?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are the right people doing the right activities, in the right order?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you notice any issues with the project\u2019s dependencies?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7. Evaluate and Refine<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is where the fun begins! Once the project is underway, as project manager, you get to track the progress and update the roadmap every single day work is done on the project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a perfect world, nothing on your project will ever change. But that\u2019s not the world we live in. All the more in the project management world. Change is a given. Resources may not be available. Costs increase. An activity you thought would take a week takes a month. Build time for evaluation and updating your schedule.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to Use a Project Roadmap to Report to Stakeholders<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Roadmaps are the primary tool your team will use to maintain that big picture view of where the project is at any moment in time. They can also be a valuable tool for key stakeholders, particularly executives and customers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve talked about how you will include stakeholders throughout the roadmap creation process. But how can you use the roadmap throughout the project to communicate with stakeholders? Whether you meet with stakeholders once a week or once a quarter, here are four tips to help you share the roadmap in a way that will more easily communicate your project\u2019s progress.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Come ready with a plan.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The old clich\u00e9, \u201cIf you fail to plan you plan to fail.\u201d As a project manager, you know that better than anyone. So don\u2019t wing it when you share your roadmap with stakeholders. Every time you go into a stakeholder reporting meeting, you should know exactly what you will say. Prepare a simple outline that shares <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">why<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you\u2019re doing what you\u2019re doing, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">what<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you are doing, and <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> you are doing it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You can even utilize <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/surveyanyplace.com\/assessment-software\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">assessment software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to emphasize the visual roadmap as you tell the story of your project so far.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Be concise.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Say just enough to justify why you believe the project is going well. Be clear and direct. If there are problems and you need help, share that, too. But don\u2019t complicate things. The more you say, the less your stakeholders will retain. Remember, too, that your stakeholders are busy people. Don\u2019t use jargon\u2013not all of your stakeholders will be familiar with some of the terminology your teammates use. Also, don\u2019t flood your roadmap visual with too much text. Take advantage of color coding and the features the software offers.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Include \u201cpercent complete\u201d for each stage or deliverable.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since the roadmap is designed to be a high-level document, you want your key stakeholders to be able to look at it for five seconds and know exactly how far along and how close to on-schedule the project is. The easiest way to do that is to list what percentage of an aspect is complete. This can easily be done with your project management software.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Present examples that benefit the customer.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every stakeholder who is a customer wants to hear that the project is going better than expected. If it is, tell them. (You should also be honest if there are problems!)\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Share how you are saving them time or money, or why an initiative will benefit them. We aren\u2019t talking about <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Gold_plating_(project_management)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gold plating<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> here, but <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.valuer.ai\/blog\/customer-discovery-the-hidden-key-to-a-successful-startup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">helping the customer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> feel good about where things are at. For every example you share, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">show<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> them with data. You need to be able to prove you will continue to stay under budget and that the schedule will be on pace. Be careful to not give too many numbers, though. That can be overwhelming. Give the highlights. If your stakeholders want more data, they will ask.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Be prepared to answer objections.<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your stakeholders aren\u2019t working on the project every day. They have other things they\u2019re responsible for. Because of this, they will likely ask you some questions you won\u2019t expect if you\u2019re not prepared. They may even ask some questions that seem silly or unrelated to you. That\u2019s okay. Take some time before each time you meet to think like a stakeholder and be prepared to use those data-driven conclusions for why you\u2019re doing things the way you are.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, Get to Work!<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Project roadmaps are often an underrated part of the project management process, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should ignore them. When used as the big picture document it was intended to be, the roadmap becomes a powerful tool in your project management toolbox. After all, it\u2019s the primary strategic document that aligns everyone to the project\u2019s vision and objective.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because it\u2019s not bogged down with the nitty-gritty details of the project, the roadmap is the one place you, your team, and stakeholders can reference as the project rolls along. Having that overall vision in front of everyone will help keep the project within the scope, on track, and on budget.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why not get started on your project\u2019s roadmap today?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As a project manager, your job is to see the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":3324,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3321","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3321"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3321\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3321"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3321"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/niftypm.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}