I would make sure the task dependencies are accurate.

I would make sure each task has a clear description and instructions.

I would make sure the duration for each task is ‘realistic’.
One thing that has helped me tremendously, which I learned through a master class episode, is to review your templates every quarter and modify accordingly based on changes in the process and ensuring the right people are assigned.
Using the resource management tool has been a great benefit to us too.
 

Thank you so much for sharing your wisdom, @JFalls! It’s so important to constantly audit the overall template to ensure that it’s all realistic!

@KimberleyFrancis is always dropping wisdom bombs in masterclasses! 

I would see if any tasks could start ‘concurrently’.  We’ve done that and we have seen time savings in days (5 days to 1 day). So days reductions is possible, if there are tasks that can be done at the same time. This would be my first point of evaluation of a template 53 days that I needed to shorten down.