Kick-Off Meetings: The Beginning of Success or Failure
From the Voices on Project Management Blog
by Cameron McGaughy,
Lynda Bourne, Kevin Korterud, Conrado Morlan, Peter Tarhanidis, Mario Trentim, Jen Skrabak, David Wakeman, Wanda Curlee, Christian Bisson, Ramiro Rodrigues, Soma Bhattacharya, Emily Luijbregts, Sree Rao, Yasmina Khelifi, Marat Oyvetsky, Lenka Pincot, Jorge Martin Valdes Garciatorres, cyndee miller
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Date
Imagine this scenario: You are the project manager of a new, strategic project of your company. Excited, you prepare the necessary documents and schedule the project's kick-off meeting.
The kick-off meeting seem to be going well, until you start presenting the necessities and you notice resistance coming from functional managers in ceding their resources.
And it’s only then you realize your mistake: You should have invited the project sponsor to the kick-off.
Kick-off meetings, which should take place between the end of the planning stage and the beginning of implementation, are of paramount importance to the success (or failure) of a project. And you must prepare.
For the project manager, the kick off is a great opportunity to ensure that your stakeholders are identified, to demonstrate that there is a common gain in the success of the project, to map out the stakeholder predispositions and to ensure that their respective roles are understood.
Here are four things to keep in mind:
1. The Invite List: You must have the other relevant stakeholders in the room—functional managers, the customer of the project product and all those who can have an influence, either positively or negatively.
2. The Meeting Infrastructure: The size of the room, amenities, coffee break and everything else that make the environment appropriate.
3. The Presentation: The kick-off meeting will be your moment to demonstrate that the project is well planned with mapped risks. But, keep your audience in mind. For example, the sponsor, usually an executive with no time to see the details, will be present at this meeting. Make your presentation concise and objective by showing that you have a clear vision of where you want to go.
4. The Sponsor: The great benefit of the kick-off meeting is to get commitment to the development and success of the project. Without it, the project manager always runs the risk of having their needs not met. This is where the essential participation of the sponsor comes in. He or she typically has a politician's nature.
Even though it is up to the project manager to conduct the meeting, it is essential that, soon after the welcome is given, the project manager gives the floor to the sponsor. They can use their position within the organization to "suggest" to those involved to give their support, resources and conditions to the project manager on behalf of the expected results of the project. With the sponsor message given—even if he or she leaves right after they speak—there is a greater chance that everyone else will understand and support the project and that will make the rest of the meeting easier for you.
What other things should you keep in mind when planning a kick off meeting? I look forward to your thoughts.
Posted
by
Ramiro Rodrigues
on: June 21, 2017 10:47 AM |
Permalink
Comments (14)
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Rami Kaibni
Community Champion
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten Associates
New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
Very Sensitive and Important subject Ramiro - Thanks for bringing it up. You more or less covered the most important points. I would add:
5. Have a well defined agenda for the meeting and stick with it. This will help guide all stakeholders before and through the meeting.
Thanks for sharing, very good topic.
Thilo Wack
Head of Existing Product and Test Lab| optimed
Tholey-Hasborn, Germany
Thanks for sharing, Ramiro. Indeed the kick-off is a crucial step. What I would add is:
- have a dry run with one or more trusted persons to check whether important content is missing or maybe not easily understandable for outside persons
- run the presentation by the sponsor for approval
- use the speach of the sponsor to check on the audience and get a feel for the stakeholders
Gonzalo Jimenez Yamasaki
Co-founder - Body Language Trainer/Coach| Ready To Jump .Pro
Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
I would add "the preparation". Knowing about your audience in advance will help to tailor the presentation accordingly.
Thomas Kennedy
Project Engineer| BP
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom
I would add another for post meeting - issuing the pack and any agreed actions to follow up on.
Thanks,
I knew the time of kick of meeting.
Dears thanks for your words and, even more, for your contributions.
My honest thanks, Ramiro Rordrigues
Vincent Guerard
Coach - Trainer - Speaker - Advisor| Freelance
Mont-Royal, Quebec, Canada
Presentation should address concern from stakeholders, so not to get questions that can derail the kickoff meeting
Thanks for this helpful insights added with interesting comments. May i ask what about if the project sponsor is not around by the time of kick off? and for a while, which alternative tips do we have to make this meeting successful? Thanks
Horace Lindsay
Sr Project Manager| HL Contracting
Pickering, Ontario, Canada
You have made some good points. Thanks.
Stéphane Parent
Self Employed / Semi-retired| Leader Maker
Prince Edward Island, Canada
The kick-off meeting might be the start of project execution but it also means it is the end of your project planning. Don't skimp on the planning part.
Very useful topic, concise and well presented.
Thanks for sharing.
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