Piecing together a project timeline template usually involves a Google Doc and mediocre formatting skills. Then comes assigning tasks to teammates and promising to hit the agreed-upon delivery date. But a few weeks go by, and the timeline falls apart. Higher priorities pop up, and deadlines slip past without much progress.
Projects can fail for many reasons: a lack of support from leadership, unforeseen budget cuts, or overpromising outcomes. In fact, poor project management is more common than you think – only 55% of projects are completed on time.
But creating a timeline where everyone involved knows what they're working on and when it's due can help ensure your project doesn't creep past its original deadline. It's essential for keeping projects (and the people completing them) on track.
![→ Access Now: 16 Timeline & Flowchart Templates [Free Tool]](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/53/6aa60787-a844-4b56-ab23-2b2aa079e7fc.png)
All fields are required.
.png)
Click this link to access this resource at any time.
Time management is one of the top skills employers look for in candidates. Missed deadlines and rushed projects can set entire teams (and companies) behind schedule.
A structured project timeline offers more than brownie points from your boss. It can also:
Ultimately, a project timeline makes it easier and more efficient to manage a project. But it's important to match the timeline structure to the project scope. Planning an editorial calendar for the quarter may take more time and effort than creating a marketing video for an upcoming product launch.
That's where the right template comes in.
Once you figure out the sequence of tasks, you need to figure out how much time each will take. Estimate as best you can. That way, it'll be easier to create the project roadmap and understand the project's overall time frame. As you go, make sure to consider the other projects and priorities your team has going on. A designer may be able to come up with a rough draft of video animations in one week, but if they're wrapping up another project, they may not be able to start on yours for another two weeks. Being mindful of your team's time will make it easier to put together a reasonable, reliable timeline.
Build your timeline by organizing your tasks from the first to the final step. Make any necessary adjustments to the task times, add milestones, and solidify the deadline. If your team works with a timeline maker or project management software, organize the timeline and tasks so it's ready to share after the project kickoff meeting. You can save time during this step by using one of the project timeline templates below. It's simple to customize each and avoid the extra work of creating your own from scratch.
Whew, your timeline is complete! Now, you have to share it with stakeholders. This includes everyone who is involved in the project. You've already listed these people out in your brief (during step one), so it's time to share your clear path forward for the project with them. It's a good idea to hold a project kickoff meeting with both stakeholders and individual contributors so everyone starts on the same page. You can communicate the project goals, deliverables, roles, and deadlines — without going into an overwhelming amount of detail. From there, you'll want to schedule time with the project's immediate contributors to chat specifics and answer any questions before the work begins. Need help visualizing the entire project? It can help to include a timeline graphic like the one below to give everyone a sense of the overall time frame. You can add or remove steps, depending on the complexity of your project. Download this Template for Free
Remember how just over half of projects are finished on time? Roadblocks and setbacks are inevitable in every project. So if your team runs into a delay, you'll have to understand the impact and adjust the timeline if necessary. While it's possible to make up for delays without changing the final deadline, it's your job as the project owner to update stakeholders on the project's progress. Reporting a minor issue (like a coworker being out sick for a few days) isn't always necessary to higher-ups. But if it's a major roadblock that requires an extreme adjustment to the timeline (like a core contributor leaving the team), you have to communicate a new timeline to stakeholders. Change is part of every company, so don't panic if you have to adjust your timeline. It's better to be transparent about the scope of work and timeline than keep people in the dark until the deadline hits. The earlier you adjust to change, the easier it will be to get back on track.
Visualizing a project makes it simple to understand what needs to happen from start to finish. Whether you need a template for a product launch or campaign meeting, these well-designed project timeline templates are perfect for your next planning session.
Download this Template for Free Need as many templates as you can get? Download all of these project timelines (and more) for free. With the right timelines in hand, it's easy to keep everyone up to date and informed. Now all you have to do is make sure your projects stay on schedule. Good luck! 
