Project Takeover Formula: How to Take Over a Started Project

TL;DR

Learn how to navigate the challenges of taking over a project that someone else has started, including understanding the project's current state, assessing and amending governance procedures, building relationships with your team and stakeholders, reviewing and revising project plans, and effectively monitoring and communicating throughout the project.

Transcript

it's never a good idea to take over a project that someone else has started there's too much risk that they have failed to set up the project to succeed so what you do if you have no choice if you are requested or required to take over a project that someone else has started and has for whatever reason had to step away from that's the question I'm ... Read More

Key Insights

• 📽️ Taking over a project means inheriting decisions and choices that were made by someone else, which may not align with your own preferences or vision for the project.
• 👻 Orientation is a critical first step, allowing you to calmly assess the project's current state and gather as much information as possible.
• 👋 Good governance is essential for project success, and it is crucial to assess and, if necessary, amend the existing governance procedures early on.
• 🤩 Building relationships and effective communication with both the team and stakeholders are key to successful project takeover.
• 🌱 Reviewing and revising project definition and plans provide an opportunity to align them with your vision and gain stakeholder buy-in.
• 👣 Monitoring and controlling the project is crucial to ensure it stays on track and within agreed-upon boundaries.
• 📽️ Effective communication is a fundamental aspect of project management, and it is especially important when taking over a project.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are the challenges of taking over a project started by someone else?

Taking over a project means inheriting someone else's decisions and potentially dealing with a project that is not in an ideal state. This includes handling decisions that may have been made to make the previous project manager's life easier rather than setting the project up for long-term success.

Q: How can orientation help when taking over a project?

Orientation involves calmly and rationally assessing the project's current state, gathering information from various sources, and avoiding making promises until you have a better understanding of what you can deliver. It's essential to ask questions and listen to the answers to gain as much insight as possible.

Q: Why is governance important when taking over a project?

Good governance is crucial for a project's success. Understanding the existing governance procedures and assessing their suitability to your project is the first step. If necessary, early on, make amendments to the governance procedures to align them with your project's goals.

Q: How should you approach team management when taking over a project?

Begin by meeting your team members individually, getting to know them, and building relationships. Convene a team meeting to address any concerns, reassure the team, and answer their questions honestly. Set up one-on-one meetings to address confidential concerns and determine team responsibilities.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• When taking over a project, you may inherit decisions and choices that you didn't make, potentially leading to a project that is not in the ideal state.

• Project managers who know they won't be completing a project may prioritize decisions that make their own life easier rather than setting the project up for long-term success.

• To successfully take over a project, follow a six-part formula: orientation, governance, team management, stakeholder management, reviewing and revising project definition and plans, and moving forward.