Managing an admin team is not just about assigning tasks. You need to create systems that support both people and projects. From choosing the right management approach to improving everyday workflows, the goal is to find methods that work both for the team and for your business. Read on for five project management tips to keep your hard-working admin team one step ahead.
Start with a centralised admin system
Admin teams function smoothly when everyone is working from the same playbook. So, it can be worth taking a step back and spending a bit of time to create a centralised system that can hold all project documents, timelines, task lists, and contacts. Having a project hub will reduce miscommunication and save time. You may decide to invest in a dedicated project management tool, but a cloud platform or shared drive can work just as well – what matters is that it’s secure, easy to use, and accessible to all team members. It’s also important to keep your projects secure online with vpn for chrome if your team works remotely or often access documents across their devices – this will streamline admin as multiple people log in and out of systems.
Avoid admin overlap: Clarify who’s doing what from day one
If your admin teams’ project roles are vague, tasks get duplicated. Even worse, essential undertakings might get completely ignored as staff assume that others are taking care of them. That’s why it’s crucial to clarify responsibilities before the project starts. One person may oversee meeting logistics, another might manage budgets or reporting, and another will deal with communications. Clear responsibilities reduce confusion, build accountability, and ensure no part of the admin puzzle goes missing.
Agile vs. Waterfall: What project management method works for your team?
The project management method you choose will shape your approach. Consider what fits for each project, the expected pace, and your team’s strengths. The agile approach works best for clearly defined projects that need quick changes as they proceed – the regular feedback is ideal for iterative progress and had led to the successful completion of many projects. In contrast, waterfall is a sequential approach where each phase must be completed before you move on to the next. The waterfall method is ideal for predictable workflows with defined outcomes – but late-stage feedback can mean costly rework.
Checklists and templates: Save time and boost productivity
Admin work includes a lot of recurring tasks – so why start from scratch each time? Set up checklists and templates for everything from meeting minutes and progress reports to new team member onboarding. Use freely available programs like Excel or OneNote and customise them to fit your team’s style. These simple aids cut down on repetition and will also help new staff hit the ground running.
Schedule regular reviews and progress updates
You’ll need to hold regular reviews to keep admin tasks on track and allow space to adjust priorities before issues escalate. These could be quick weekly meetings, biweekly catchups, or monthly deep dives – whatever you decide, consistent updates help projects stay aligned and deadlines stay realistic. These sessions are also a chance to check in on your team’s wellbeing by ensuring that workloads are manageable and morale is high.
Good admin is good teamwork
Good admin project management isn’t just about staying organised. You want to create a clear, supportive structure that your entire team can rely on. With these strategies, the team will stay ahead, feel confident, and deliver consistently strong results.