Struggling to write Project Plan

[Whereisme]

I have been tasked with writing a project plan for a new service I am setting up and I’m really struggling with it! I have been given a plan that has been written before as a template, but not sure if that’s really helpful! I know how I want the service to look and have engaged with key stakeholders to get their views, but really struggling to get it down on paper! I’m also not very confident in my abilities so constantly thinking I’m doing it wrong.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Start at the end - what it the project meant to achieve, and then work back the milestones needed to get to that point.

If you have a template, what headings does it have?

Thanks 😊 I should have been clearer in that it’s a more of a Project Initiation Document than a project plan. Sorry for the confusion!

Exec summary, project definition including aims and approach, benefits, planning and risks and issues so pretty standard. I just can’t seem to get the words out!

Do you mean:

The aim of this project is to deliver support to under privileged children living in Downing Street

The key stakeholders are A, B and C.

The support will be provided in 3 main areas:

• access to state schooling


• support for when parents are unexpectedly ousted from their jobs/homes


• dealing with unknown half siblings

The success criteria are: <whatever> (as some kind of SMART targets)

Resources will be drawn from ...

If you are having trouble I'd try just writing some stuff down and then improving it.

Risks - what might stop it working
Benefits - why are you doing it
Planning - timescale and money & people & anything else needed

There are loads of PID templates and guides available to download, maybe take some time out to look at a few examples to give yourself so inspiration?

(a PID was was always the responsibility of the Project Manager - why are you being asked to write one?)

I did a large project last year where I really lacked confidence (this seems to be your main sticking point)
What I ended up doing was giving myself a deadline to write the "first draft" and telling myself that as long as I got the general idea down under each heading I wouldn't worry about how silly it sounded.
Then I worked on editing and improving the draft on the basis that it's always easier to edit something than to start working on a blank sheet.
Would this sort of approach help you to get over your writer's block?

Some great suggestions, thank you! Will look online for inspiration, and yes I definitely think main problem is lack of confidence! Will focus on getting first draft done.

Small team so no Project Manager!

This is good advice, worth a try and something that helps me.

Once you have got over the hurdle or fear of the blank sheet it is easier to stand back, get creative thinking engaged and refine.

Also it is easier to ask for a second opinion or support once started. It is obvious you have put in effort but if new to the activity it is ok to need a steer or affirmation you are on the right path.

TeenDivided - this is brilliant! And extremely witty :)