An Excel schedule helps you to break down large project goals into smaller, achievable steps. It also defines who has to do what and by when. It helps to set expectations and increase the transparency of the individual completion steps. With time planning, you are always up to date with the scope of delivery and deadlines for projects - even with larger project teams and a large scope of work.

With a project schedule, it is important not to overlook or skip any steps. As the project progresses, it keeps internal and external decision-makers, customers and management informed of all project phases. It includes information about actions, people, due dates, priorities and status.

A project schedule should answer the following questions:

• Why are we tackling this project?
• What problem will this project solve or address?
• What are we working on?
• Which delivery items and targets are the most important?
• Who is involved in the project and what is the person responsible for?
• When should the project start and end?
• What milestones are there?

For example, the following scheduling methods are available:

• Analysis of work behavior and activities
• Goal and prioritization
• Delegation
• Working methods for solution-oriented and structured work
• Learning techniques, learning types
• Dealing with the flood of information
• Planning and problem-solving techniques
• Time management and personal performance curve
• Stress management
• Decision-making and creativity techniques

The advantage of an Excel schedule is:

• Scope and complexity freely definable
• The timeline illustrates the progress of the project - with colors to see at a glance where there are problems
• The focus of the statements can be set independently
• The numbers themselves are calculated using formulas
• You can combine data from different sources
• Almost everyone has the program

In a work technique and time management seminar, you learn to analyze your own work technique and to take better account of work method findings in your future work. You learn how to use planning tools to plan your time sensibly and how to recognize and reduce stress situations at an early stage.

The purpose of a schedule (Excel, Outlook etc.) is:

• Improved communication (information for decision-makers, clear indication of expectations, recognition of status)
• More transparency (clarity about next steps and timeline, priorities and goals)
• Better organization (tasks, dependencies, milestones, activities and time requirements)

The following is important for project scheduling:

• Goal-oriented thinking and action
• Activity analysis
• Reviewing your own working style
• Dealing with disruptions and interruptions
• Set priorities
• Time management (daily and weekly schedule)
• Workplace design
• Stress management

Further training in project time planning (Excel, Outlook or specific tools) is suitable for project managers or project management assistants in order to optimize planning. Such courses are also suitable for people who want to meet the challenges of their day-to-day work with optimized time management and efficient working techniques. Time optimization brings benefits to almost everyone.