Why Templates?

I’ve been asked "Why are templates so valuable". So, I thought I would try to answer this question. There are 5 great reasons why managers and teams find templates useful. They are:

1. They save you time

On every new project, you have to create new documents to plan, track and report on status. This takes time, especially when many of the documents you create are going to be a one-off. So to save time, use templates to create your documents quickly and easily.

If the templates you use have been well written, then they should be pre-formatted with all of the sections, tables, charts and forms you need. This way, you can avoid having to spend time formatting your documents and purely focus on completing the content. On average, most people save 25% of their time completing project documents, by using properly formatted templates.

2. They give you direction

In addition to saving you time, well written templates step you through the sections needed to write your document from start to finish. They tell you what you have to write, how and where. They give you direction, so it's crystal clear what has to be done to complete your document.

3. They make it easier

In short, a good quality template will make the task of creating a project document as easy as 1-2-3. You don't have to stress about what needs to go in your document, how to format it or how to write it up. The template will tell you what information needs to be entered, and it should include practical examples to help you along the way.

4. They boost your quality

It makes sense that if you use high quality templates, then you will generate high quality documents. High quality templates should be professionally designed, written by experts and aligned with worldwide standards.

5. They give you confidence

Have you ever been asked to write a document that you're unfamiliar with or have never written before? If so, then you can use a template to get the document layout, tables, charts and completion instructions at your finger tips. All you need to do is to fill-in the blanks. By using templates to complete new documents, you will gain a higher level of confidence in your work, helping you to excel in project management.

Why are templates valuable? Because they help you work smarter, not harder. Need I say more?