50+ SAMPLE Management Checklist

What Is a Management Checklist?

A management checklist is a comprehensive list that outlines the various tasks, responsibilities and requirements of a manager or project management committee. The checklist is meant to help managers, project officers and other professionals keep track of their tasks and ensure timely deliverables. 

According to an online article by Finances Online, 39% of people believe that the primary cause of project failure is change in organization priorities. Similarly, around 37% of respondents think it is due to changes in project objectives.   

Tips For Being a Better Manager

Being a manager is a major responsibility. People look up to you for guidance and expect you to help and lead them. The following examples are some practical and effective tips on how you can become a better manager and leader for your team.  

Learn to listen. In a hyper competitive and fast-paced work environment, there are too many people fighting to be seen and heard. A lot of people prefer to talk and impose their ideas and opinions on others. However, people should not forget that speaking up is only part of communication. The often overlooked side of communication is active listening. Learning how to listen is key if you want to be a better leader for your team. It is only by listening to other people that you truly learn their concerns and make an effort to understand them. For instance, if your staff or subordinates find it difficult to even approach you and raise issues that concern them, it is a sign that you need to be a better listener. Listening is all about practicing inclusivity and making everyone in your team feel heard and valued. Don’t hesitate to offer help. If you want to be more engaged in your work and take a more active role within your team, do not hesitate to extend a helping hand to whoever may need it. Being a manager means you get to wear various hats. You not only are a supervisor and leader, you must also assume the role of mentor and trainer. If you want to lead a productive team or department, you must be willing to train those under you. Mentorship is an excellent way of imparting knowledge and skills to employees who look up to you for guidance. As a manager, it is not enough to merely oversee your team and ensure they are doing their jobs. You have to become actively involved, especially if they require counsel and direction. Give quality feedback. A key responsibility of a manager is to help solve problems and rectify issues. If your job is to supervise and manage a team, you need to have a firm understanding of all the roles and functions of each team member. If you don’t have any clue or idea, you cannot provide the appropriate feedback or prescribe the right solutions. Thus, you need to take it upon yourself to be informed and proactive enough to give helpful and useful feedback. It shouldn’t be just any kind of feedback, it must be action-oriented, concrete and viable. The goal is to help your team members improve and accomplish the shared goals of the team. By providing better evaluations and feedback, you are not just striving towards a common organizational goal, you are also helping the employee grow professionally.

Examples of a Manager’s Responsibilities 

The responsibilities and tasks of a manager would greatly depend on individual and organizational circumstances. The role of an operations manager would differ from that of an accounting head or marketing supervisor. But even with the differences in the finer details, there are also a lot of similarities when it comes to the managerial role in a general sense. The following examples are just some of the major responsibilities of a manager.  

Performance Reviews. A major responsibility of a manager is conducting performance appraisals or reviews. As a supervisor or manager, you are in charge of overseeing a team of people who report to you. Their performance effectively affects and reflects your own. Thus, you need to ensure your team members’ professional growth and productivity. A performance review is a standard way of measuring productivity and competence. Managers need to regularly check in with their teams and rate how well they execute their functions and tasks. But more than just a grading tool, a performance appraisal is also an opportunity for the manager and staff to discuss goals and professional improvement in a one-on-one session. The purpose of a performance review should be to help the employee improve and grow in the workplace. Goal Setting. One basic and fundamental task of a manager is setting team or departmental goals. Managers are instrumental in providing direction for the team. Because managers assume a leadership role, subordinates rely on them for instruction and advice. Clear objectives must be established and communicated effectively to the team. It is the job of the manager to promote collaboration and efficiency within the team. Without clear goals and objectives, the risk for miscommunication and incoordination within the team is more likely. Therefore, a good manager is one that is committed to team goals and effective in disseminating and executing them. Planning and Organizing. Another primary task of a manager is planning and organization. Effective planning is necessary for preparation and the timely execution of objectives. A manager takes an active role in preparing and planning for what needs to be done. Whether it is strategic planning or policy making, a manager’s role extends beyond just oversight. It is their duty to initiate and propose ideas that will advance the company’s interests and goals. Their responsibility is to ensure that everything is organized and that everyone in their team is contributing to the shared objectives. Effective implementation cannot be maximized without efficient organization and planning skills. Improvement of Process. In relation to planning and organizing, another essential responsibility of a supervisor or manager is to improve the process. Organizations that are unable to adapt or respond effectively to change are usually the ones that cannot survive. Even the most established companies cannot remain stagnant for too long. Thus, change, growth and improvement are always necessary for an organization’s future. It is the task of leaders and decision-makers such as executives and managers to constantly propose better ways of improving the system. This means coming up with means and creative solutions that will help improve internal processes. A good manager has the initiative to propose new ideas or more sustainable ways to improve the system.

How to Create a Management Checklist

To create a management checklist, you need to have a broad understanding of what needs to be accomplished. And if you are looking for reliable and editable templates, you can easily use any of the available sample checklists above as a reference guide. Once you’ve selected one that suits your needs, follow the basic steps below.  

Step 1: Set an Objective 

The first step in crafting a management checklist is to establish a clear objective. You need to know the main purpose behind the list you’re planning to prepare. A management checklist can cover a number of different requirements and tasks, depending on individual circumstances. Regardless, it is important to have a goal that will direct you and help you stay on track. For example, if your checklist enumerates the various phases and requirements for project management, you need to describe and state your objective in a concrete way.      

Step 2: Gather Information 

Once you have set a definitive objective, the next step is to gather and prepare all the information you need. This may entail some research or collaboration involving your team. In a lot of cases, a management checklist requires careful planning and preparation. You cannot expect one individual to automatically know what goes into the checklist. There has to be a deliberate collection and discernment of information in order to come up with a comprehensive and accurate checklist. If you want to prevent unnecessary mistakes and inconvenience, it is best to approach your management checklist with a considerable amount of preparation.   

Step 3: List the Items

The next step is to fill in the items on your checklist. Again, a management checklist can cover a number of different things. From project requirements, tasks, responsibilities, reminders to documents, all these can be included in the checklist. Whatever your objective is, just make sure to list your items clearly and with the right format. You may also want to arrange your items in such a way that there is a sensible and logical flow. In other words, order your checklist items according to a certain criteria. For example, you can arrange the items according to highest priority or urgency.   

Step 4: Install a Monitoring Mechanism   

The last step in creating a management checklist is to provide a way to track its progress. The work does not end with the last entry on your checklist. You need to be able to monitor the progress of the checklist. When tasks have been completed or requirements have been completed, it must be indicated. The purpose of this is to keep an updated list at all times. The problem with not using an updated list is that unnecessary confusion and incoordination are more likely to arise.      

FAQs

What is a project manager’s checklist?

A project manager’s checklist is a comprehensive checklist that details the different requirements and tasks needed to accomplish a project. The list is a tool that helps the project manager stay on top of his or her tasks.

What are the six points of a project checklist?

According to Wrike, the six points of a project checklist include identifying the stakeholders and defining the necessary deliverables. It’s all about setting goals, identifying issues, creating a timeline and lastly, presenting the project to stakeholders.

How do you create a management checklist?

To create a management checklist, you need to establish a clear objective and enumerate the different management requirements and responsibilities. Refer to the previous section for more detailed instructions on how to create a management checklist.

A management checklist should be comprehensive and feasible. If you are looking for quick and convenient checklists to use as a reference guide, you can easily browse the wide selection of free editable templates above! Simply choose one that suits your needs and draft your own checklist today!