First Steps to Take an Existing Project

Sometimes it’s necessary to hand over a project to a new manager or leader. What are the first steps to take on an existing project?

Get the facts and a broad sense of where the project has been and where it’s headed. Investigate the corners of the project:  interview stakeholders, key team members and review the resources, documents, plans and products of the project.  

Honor the history of the project and those that contributed to is present state.  It’s less about protecting egos and more about recognizing the work that’s been done to leverage the past efforts to further the project along. 

Be generous with communication across the project team and stakeholders. Communicate the truth and build consensus about any problem areas and the action plan to fix it.  Then ensure the team has the support to continue the project vision and expectations.

For whatever the reason: project lag or even failure, change in staff responsibilities or company priorities is there a project that you’d consider a new leadership.

Rachel, Reach Partners