Often times when implementing a new system or starting a new project, the to-do list can be the main deterrent to actually getting work done. An overwhelming task list can lead to an endless number of planning and preparation meetings that don’t really accomplish any goals.  

Projects in Salesforce are definitely no stranger to these experiences and downfalls. Understanding how to use Salesforce or what you’d like to accomplish using the system can be daunting at times. Even employing and retaining the right Salesforce talent on your team is a challenge in and of itself. Your Salesforce initiatives don’t have to be an impossible mountain to climb, though.

Steps To Success

When your team has too much on its plate, take a breath and follow these steps to start making progress toward your goals.

Set Goals and Attach Realistic Expectations to Them

First things first, you need to establish your goals. If you’re implementing Salesforce, why are you doing so? If you want to create new dashboards, what are you hoping these dashboards will accomplish? Understanding the purpose of your actions helps to create a clearer project plan. Once you know why you’re doing what you’re doing, set expectations that you can accomplish based on these goals. These can include deadlines or even metrics by which you’ll measure success to a goal’s completion. Having goals and expectations to compare against will help your team evaluate the success or progress of your Salesforce project.

Evaluate the Talent on your Team

Once you know what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and more or less when you’d like it done, you need to know who will be doing this work. Take a look at the team around you and figure out if you have the necessary resources. You may have all the hands you need, but you may find that you’re lacking some necessary capabilities and Salesforce talent to accomplish your goals. If someone on your team is interested in developing skills relevant to the goals, think about training courses or Salesforce Trailhead options.

Make a Strategic To-Do List

At this point in planning, you should have a good understanding of what resources you’ll need to start moving forward and what tasks are involved in getting the job done. Create a to-do list that is thorough and strategic—organize your tasks in a way that makes sense chronologically and includes tasks relevant to the project or goal. Part of this to-do list may be hiring new Salesforce talent or finding a Salesforce consultant to complete some work. It’s also a great idea to add checkpoints to your schedule so you can regroup with the team and make changes or updates to this list periodically.

Consider Working With a Partner

Rome was not built in a day, and it most definitely was not built by one person. If you’re struggling with limited Salesforce talent or have a lack of bandwidth on your team, selecting a Salesforce partner to help you get the job done is a great way to start checking items off the to-do list! To select the right Salesforce partner for you, consider what you’re looking for. Do you need help with a data migration? Are you struggling to keep up with new Salesforce releases? Do you need a suite of dashboards set up? Salesforce consultants that offer managed services can take on short-term or long-term partnerships with your team or can take on projects that are completely outsourced to them. Talk to your team about what might be more beneficial to your team.

Communicate Concerns & Roadblocks Immediately

Any new project can start to make your head spin. Be upfront about concerns and suspected roadblocks as soon as they come to your mind to reduce delays. Once these are communicated with your team or Salesforce partner, you can start working on solutions faster and more effectively.

Getting Started

Now that you’re prepared, it’s time to get to work! These initial planning steps will keep your team organized and help you create a thorough project plan to achieve your goals and expected outcomes.

Need help with your Salesforce project? Silverline is your experienced guide for the Salesforce Platform. Contact us to learn how Silverline can help you navigate the cloud.