MLS Success, pt. 2--Project Planning

(2nd in my series about succeeding in library school)

One of the most satisfying aspects of graduate school is that there are clearly defined goals with definite end dates. I think of them all as projects, although they are often papers or presentations. I recommend that you have two processes in place for handling projects.

First, you will want a system for keeping track of projects and things to do. I use Getting Things Done as my guide. There is a danger of endlessly tweaking the system and not actually getting anything done, but I found I could pump new energy into my system by rethinking it a bit in the down time between semesters. Merlin Mann has a good post about getting started with the system, including links to other helpful summaries. Get the book from the library to see if it's going to work for you. I did buy this one after I had it checked out of the library so long they made me take it back.

Second, you will want a process that gets you past the initial Blank Page which can be so paralyzing to students, writers, and other creative types. Any process that helps you think through a project, putting something on paper, will spring you out of Blank Page syndrome.

If you are comfortable with a business-oriented project planning process, like Gantt charts, you could adapt that to your student projects.

I cobbled together a planning process from a couple of books. The one I used to structure the whole thing was A Kick in the Seat of the Pants by Roger Von Oech. This book described four phases for approaching a project--Explorer, Artist, Judge, and Warrior. I made a mind map for each with questions and tasks that came from Von Oech's book as well as Six Thinking Hats by Edward de Bono.

At the beginning of each project, I pulled out these four mind maps and worked through them. Depending on the project, this might take a few minutes (in cases where I didn't really need a formal process to get started) or a few days (in cases where I incorporated my research and initial writing into my planning process).

Now that I've used that planning process for nearly three years, I have internalized it. I'm thinking of setting myself up with a new one based on The Universal Traveler by Don Koberg and Jim Bagnall, a book that was recommended in a recent C&RL News article about leadership by Susan Metros.

Next in the series: Making Connections     #

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