10 Most Successful Habits for Project Managers

Being honest to ourselves, we sometimes look with a little envy at other successful people and ask ourselves what their key to success is.

I find myself occasionally looking more closely at a report about Richard Branson, the Virgin founder, for example, and trying to discover his habits and transfer them to me... well, at least in my mind for now.

What are habits?

A habit is one in which a behavior or reaction has been consolidated by constant repetition. This can be a cup of coffee or tea in the morning, or a walk after lunch.

In this article I would like to look at the most important habits for project managers and how to establish new habits for yourself.

The top 10 habits

The following habits are designed for us "desk perpetrators". Depending on the professional profile, they can also vary greatly.

1. Rise up early regularly. "I do not care about the early bird" - that's how I thought about it so far. The fact is, however, that at the time when most people are still asleep there is plenty of time for important things.
2. Write or maintain your task list always the evening before. Here one could also alternatively call "set goals and check". The effect is the same: Live the day consciously and actively.
3. Exercise regularly. Our body thanks us.
4. Learn something new every day. This keeps our head in training and our horizon constantly expands.
5. Give yourself regular breaks. A short break clears your head and prepares you for something new.
6. Sleep always at the same times. Our inner clock also adapts to our sleeping habits. If these are too irregular, we become tired at inappropriate times.
7. Create time periods for your passion on a regular basis.
8. face your own fears. Each one of us is accompanied by small or big fears. As we begin to deal with each fear, our lives quickly become much more relaxed.
9. Reward yourself if no one else does. Rewards play an important role in every person. It doesn't even have to be something material, an additional time out is often also a nice thank you.
10. Drink enough water Our body consists of about 65% water and we through the skin and breathing daily about half a liter. This should be replenished for an average person with 1.5 to 2 liters. But water, mind you - not Coca Cola, Fanta or other soft drinks.

How do I establish a new habit?

If you have now found one or the other favourite, it is time for the implementation. The first question is of course - and this applies not only to us project managers - the duration. This is where science has worked for us.
Phillippa Lally from University College in London published a study in the European Journal of Social Psychology on how long it takes to form and establish a habit. According to this study, it takes an average of 66 days to form a habit. In detail, 96 people between 18 days and 254 days were busy establishing their habit.

Which tools to use for the new habit?

1. Setting a goal. We project managers know that: "You can never get there without a goal!" In this context, the question of "Why?" is also very important!
2. Set stimuli. If the bicycle is stored in the cellar, I will never climb on it. Place it next to the front door.
3. Divide into smaller goals. We project managers also know this: You don't eat a Sacher cake in one piece. And the motto for the subgoals is: Hold on!
4. Set Up Checks. A simple checklist in the calendar or the project management software helps immensely here.
5. Remember your plan. Eye-level post-it's, questions from friends, automated reminder e-mails - that helps a lot.

How do I start now?

Just start. Now.

A reading tip in this context is still The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do, and How to Change written by Charles Duhigg.