Managing Multiple Projects: How Project Managers Can Balance Priorities, Manage Expectations and Increase Productivity

by Elizabeth Harrin

Overview

Project management is becoming even more complex. Every project manager, regardless of their industry, will be taking on an increasing number of projects bringing a new set of challenges for them to navigate.

Combining an overview of formal project management techniques with strategies for time management and productivity, Managing Multiple Projects is an essential guide for project managers to understand how to balance priorities, manage expectations and increase productivity while managing multiple projects at once.

This second edition is fully updated and draws on the latest trends in project management. From managing hybrid project teams to integrating change management techniques, this book includes content on how to work with AI and robotic process automation as well as guidance on balancing multiple methodologies, offering the key to working in the new project ecosystem.

Checklists for common tasks and adaptable templates of trackers and reports are provided alongside easily actioned exercises to improve processes. Managing Multiple Projects has the tools needed to improve the chances of project success and get results. The book also includes online resources including downloadable templates of framework checklists and status reports.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781398620568
Publisher:	Kogan Page, Ltd.
Publication date:	07/29/2025
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.00(d)

About the Author

Elizabeth Harrin has over 20 years of experience in project roles across financial services and healthcare and currently works as a senior project manager. She is the founder of the award-winning website, Rebel's Guide to Project Management which provides training, education and mentorship to project managers and also runs the project management community, Project Management Rebels. She is based in Sussex, UK.

Table of Contents

** Chapter - 00: Introduction; ** Chapter - 01: Troubleshooting guide – fast answers to urgent questions; ** Chapter - 02: Why we need a new way to manage projects; ** Chapter - 03: Concept #1 – portfolio – understanding your workload; ** Chapter - 04: Concept #2 – plan – combining project schedules; ** Chapter - 05: Concept #3 – people – engaging stakeholders across multiple projects; ** Chapter - 06: Concept #4 – productivity – managing your own time; ** Chapter - 07: Concept #5 – practices – setting up the environment for success; ** Chapter - 08: Techniques and skills; ** Chapter - 09: Final words; ** Chapter - 10: Appendices;

Editorial Reviews

"I didn't realize how much easier life could be until I opened the first edition of Managing Multiple Projects. And now, with the second edition, you get even more information and resources you need to manage multiple projects effectively. As a seasoned project manager who has juggled multiple projects over the years, I find myself frequently referring back to this invaluable resource. The updated edition builds even more on its predecessor, offering a structured approach that's not only easy to understand but also immediately actionable. One standout concept is 'Creating Your Personal Portfolio'-a strategy that has guided how I group and prioritize my projects. This method alone has been instrumental in aligning my work with my project goals. The lessons are clearly articulated, making it straightforward to integrate these strategies into your current projects. This book is a must-read for any project manager handling multiple projects-which, let's face it, is most of us. I wholeheartedly recommend this resource to all project managers seeking to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness."

Russ Parker

"This is one of the few books that acknowledge the reality of the modern workplace where managers are often juggling multiple projects at the same time. Elizabeth Harrin, an experienced project manager, sets out five concepts to help you keep your head above water and succeed in a world that is increasingly project driven."

Nick Canty

"This book has been pivotal in helping me to organize my workload, reduce the guilt, speak objectively to stakeholders about priorities and really deliver lasting impact. Those skills got me my current role, and I've been weaving the concepts from the book into our business processes."

Digital Transformation Manager Daniel Barrett

"Managing Multiple Projects is an essential book for project managers to have on their shelves - toss away your others! It discusses the challenges that project managers face today and provides a number of best practices for managing those challenges."

Gina Abudi

"Of all the challenges project managers face today, many of the students in my PM classes tell me that managing multiple projects is #1 on their list. Concurrent projects bring battles for resources, conflicting deadlines and competing priorities. Renowned PM expert and author Elizabeth Harrin's new book provides powerful guidance in this area, with many of her own tried-and-true tips and techniques. I especially recommend her personal portfolio workload tracking spreadsheet, described in detail in her book, as a great template to get started with for immediate productivity gains."

Jeff Furman

"Elizabeth Harrin has a way of simplifying how to manage even the most complex projects. She's mastered the art of explaining precisely what a new or experienced project manager can do to be successful using an easy-to-follow people-centric approach that fuses processes and technology perfectly. No detail has been missed in this comprehensive book."

Moira Alexander

"This book is a standout resource for anyone managing multiple projects and trying to do it with clarity and sanity intact. I especially appreciated the practical frameworks and the useful productivity checklists, but most importantly the emphasis on how to protect the wellbeing of both you and your team. This is the kind of book that earns a permanent spot on your desk, not your bookshelf and I know I will keep turning back to it for guidance."

Alexandra Errea

"In her must-read book Managing Multiple Projects, Elizabeth Harrin writes with the knowledge of someone with deep multi-faceted project management experience: individual, program and multiple projects. She provides readers with quick coaching tips and presents a robust five-concept framework for managing multiple projects, consisting of portfolio, plan, people, productivity and practices, a holistic way to control the workload."

Jon Swain

"This practical and well-written guide uses a simple framework to help you manage your workload, combine project schedules and engage stakeholders across multiple projects. It also helps you optimize your personal productivity. Reading this book will increase the quality of your work and save you time in the long run."

Executive Coach and author of “The Power of Susanne Madsen

"In a world where everyone is increasingly expected to juggle multiple tasks, priorities and projects, this book is an important and much needed resource. Combining useful insights from effective managers with meaningful reflection, it offers a practical and tailorable coaching manual designed to guide and support managers throughout their multi-project career."

Professor Darren Dalcher

"In this increasingly projectized world of portfolios, programs, multiple projects, tasks, contracts and virtual teams, in an ever more complex and uncertain environment, the challenges and stressors facing project professionals can be daunting. Elizabeth has taken on these challenges with knowledgeable, practical and very readable advice. She's one of the most creative project management experts that I know of. If you are working on two or more projects and want to both be more successful and reduce stress, this is the book for you."

David L. Pells

"Managing multiple projects is often neglected in project management theory and texts - so it's about time we finally get a practical no-nonsense guide that helps us deliver all our projects with their varying needs and stakeholders without burning out. Elizabeth knows her stuff!"

Anita Phagura

"The reason lots of project people are down-trodden, over worked, underpaid and undervalued is because they appear as a level of effort line on the project plan. They're there, but no-one knows what they really do. A non-value adding overhead. Elizabeth's book helps you become a benefits-driven portfolio. Rather than project managing others or blindly delivering tasks, it shows you how to better understand and manage yourself, but in a project and portfolio way. A strategic and self-reflective way. Poacher turned gamekeeper. The world needs smart citizens for the smart cities it needs to live in. This book will help you and help others make the world the better place it urgently needs to become."

Steve Wake

"Managing a project is tough, managing multiple projects can be overwhelming. To succeed you need the skills of a juggler, a mind that can multi-process, and a spirit of adventure. A great reference guide can only be a bonus and this is exactly what you have in Elizabeth Harrin's book 'Managing Multiple Projects', a perfect partner to multiple project success."

author ‘The Lazy Project Manager’ Peter Taylor

"Elizabeth has presented at several events for our Assistant community and written fantastic articles for our website. She is an expert in project management and always provides clear guidance and excellent strategies to those who need help managing multiple projects. I highly recommend her book and encourage anyone who has to manage projects to seek out her work."

Founder and Editor of Practically Perfect PA Nicky Christmas

"Elizabeth Harrin has written an excellent guidebook for project managers and others juggling multiple projects. Filled with practical advice on managing it all, you will become a better project manager. She lays out a framework that is easy to follow and will help you get control of your workload. To get the most out of this book, implement the action steps at the end of each chapter and check out the appendices to find helpful checklists and templates. I highly recommend this book."

Cornelius Fichtner

"We are living in a time of mass disruption, and Elizabeth counsels us that so much can be solved with better planning and by being better organized. When so much feels outside of our control, Elizabeth brings us order by presenting various tools and techniques to help us create our own ways of working across waterfall, hybrid and agile approaches. Want to be a better project manager? Read this book, get a hold of these practices, and put them into action."

Brantlee Underhill

"Employee engagement has a direct correlation to productivity" ... and the importance of engaging with people, especially when working across multiple projects with varying deadlines and dependencies, has been documented perfectly in this book. As a professional managing multiple projects in my career this was a refreshing read, breaking down the plan concept across 5 main areas. Elizabeth's focus on the importance of people, engagement and communication was a pleasure to read, and a must for every project manager out there."

Nicola Graham

"In work, there's no such thing as problems, merely the opportunity for projects and productivity. Elizabeth Harrin has written a thoughtful, detailed and useful guide to project management for smart people. It's packed with models, practical perspectives and some of the best thinking on being productive with the bigger picture. Whether your projects look like sushi, spaghetti or a side-dish, this book will help you make sense of them, and get your world under control."

founder of Think Productive and author of How to b Graham Allcott

"Organisations around the world are all suddenly demanding one key skill - the ability to manage multiple projects (MMP). The problem is that few people actually have this skill. This book shows how to rise to the challenge of MMP, make a fantastic contribution to your organization and yet still have a life. If you are facing MMP overload this book should be No 1 on your infinite "to do" list. read it now!"

Stephen Carver