How To Break Down Tasks in 5 Steps (Plus Tips)

1. Look at the big picture. …
2. Examine the parts of the task. …
3. Think about the logical order of completing the pieces. …
4. Create a timeline for completing your tasks. …
5. Have a plan to help you stay on track. …
6. Complete your task early enough to have some time left for a final review.

The thing is, the human brain function has limits. It struggles with information overload, is unable to hold infinite amounts of information, and cannot process a lot of information at once. All of the above are typically necessary for a large, difficult task in your daily life, which makes you anxious, overthink it, and ultimately fail to complete it.

I was dealing with this every day at the start of my career. I would try to concentrate on large tasks that seemed endless for hours. In an effort to cross everything off my list and avoid disappointing my important clients, I would stay up all night. Did I manage to get the work done? Yes. Was it a healthy and balanced lifestyle? Not at all.

How To Break Down Project Into Actionable Tasks

How to break down tasks

To divide your project into smaller, more manageable tasks, think about using the following steps:

1. Identify the ultimate goal

Identifying your long-term goals is the first step in breaking a large task down into smaller ones. Consider the objectives and results you want to achieve by the project’s conclusion when deciding on the overall objective. For instance, a marketing team’s ultimate objective might be to complete a campaign for a client by the end of the month. Additionally, you can decide what your team and you want the project to accomplish most, such as growing your customer base.

2. Outline how to accomplish the ultimate goal

The second step is figuring out what you can do to accomplish the goal. Making a list of everything you might need to do for the project is part of this. For instance, to plan a successful event, you might get in touch with vendors, hire entertainers, send out invitations, develop a schedule, and secure a location. This aids you in developing a clear understanding of some smaller project goals.

3. Break down the work into smaller tasks

Then, after determining the amount of work required for the project, you can divide each objective into a number of smaller steps or tasks. For instance, finding a reputable entertainment team, getting in touch with them, determining how to pay them, and signing a contract are all steps in the process of hiring entertainers for an event.

Until you can no longer divide the tasks any further, divide each small task into other tasks. For instance, when looking for a reputable entertainment team, you may need to determine the type of entertainment your audience will enjoy the most, look up a few bands, and then see if you can book them.

4. Assign timelines and teams for each task

After listing these smaller tasks, you can give each one a deadline and assign the tasks to a particular team or worker. This makes it easier for each team member to understand their specific duties and the deadlines for completing them. As a result of everyone being aware of the project deadlines and assignments, this can help improve communication and efficiency. Additionally, prioritizing tasks also aids in team members’ focus by putting the most crucial ones first.

5. Measure your progress

It’s crucial to monitor the development of your project to determine whether you’re on schedule. It can also assist you in identifying potential areas for improvement or whether you need to devote more time to a particular task or goal. By doing so, you can modify your project as the work progresses and add, remove, or change anything as necessary.

Why break down tasks?

Here are the reasons you may break down tasks:

Tips for breaking down tasks

Consider using the advice in the following list to break down tasks quicker and more effectively:

Start at the end and work backward when defining subtasks

You might think about focusing on the project’s end goal and planning your steps by working backwards from there. This could direct you toward taking actions you may not have previously considered. If you’re unsure of the direction of the project or which tasks are most crucial, it can also assist you in finding solutions.

Do harder tasks first

You might think about completing your most difficult or time-consuming tasks first. This is one tactic that could increase your likelihood of finishing those tasks without putting them off and increase your productivity. Additionally, you might have more energy for these activities at the start of your workday as opposed to the end. Because you already completed your most difficult tasks, this can also give you a sense of accomplishment and put you in a good mood as you work on your other tasks.

Group similar tasks

You might consider grouping tasks that are related. You can do this to maintain organization, increase focus, and save time. Being able to focus on one task at a time rather than switching to several may also help. You might group tasks by deadline, priority, assignment or type.

Use templates

To simplify your tasks and maintain organization, you can use templates that are readily available online. Some templates could make you aware of project components that you might not have thought to include or consider before. Some online software management tools may also include functions that can expedite the task-splitting process.

Use tools for successful collaboration

You can use project management tools to organize your tasks when decomposing them. Breaking down may be more effective with collaboration tools, especially for team member communication. Some project management tools have features that let you divide a single task into several smaller tasks, assign roles to particular team members, set the task’s deadline, and alert the team when a task is finished. Additionally, these tools might include visual aids that allow you to track the project’s progress and group tasks according to a color scheme for better organization.

FAQ

What is best way to develop a task breakdown?

1. Include 100% of the work necessary to complete the goal.
2. Don’t account for any amount of work twice.
3. Focus on outcomes, not actions.
4. A work package shouldn’t require more than 80 hours of work but no less than 8 hours.
5. Include about three levels of detail.

How do you do a task breakdown for a project?

1. Identify the project. Reviewing the project’s specifics, including its instructions and the primary components you want to finish, is the first step in breaking it down into smaller tasks.
2. Prioritize tasks. …
3. Create a schedule. …
4. Set milestones. …
5. Adjust tasks.

How do you handle a large task?

1. Make a plan‌. Making a plan is the first and most important step you should take when taking on large projects.
2. Commit to it. As you make your plan, you also set a goal.
3. Split it up. …
4. Make it a habit. …
5. Start in your head. …
6. Make it easy. …
7. Be positive. …
8. Reward yourself.

How do I identify tasks?

1. Identify tasks by their completion time. Identifying tasks according to how long it takes to complete them
2. Identify tasks by their importance. …
3. Identify tasks with input from the team. …
4. Identify tasks by the “definition of done”