Should You Resurrect That Doomed Project?

Dear Bonnie, I’ve been asked to relaunch a project that flatlined six months ago. Tasks just…stopped happening. Status meetings turned into ghost towns. So, I stopped managing and reporting on it, and—surprise—no one seemed to care. Now, someone wants me to resurrect it. How do I know if this is a great second chance or a reputation-ruining time sink?

Sincerely, Frustrated and Wary

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Dear Frustrated and Wary,

When people lose faith in a project, they can always find more exciting things to do, like rearranging their pens or watching the air conditioning fluff their colleague’s combover. Before you grab the defibrillator and attempt a project revival, let’s determine if this thing even has a pulse.

1. Who’s behind this reboot request? And I don’t mean the person who emailed you. I mean the real puppet master. If it’s the same folks who let it wither before, be skeptical. If it’s someone new, they might actually have the muscle to keep it alive this time.
2. How much power do they have? Can they actually assign resources and secure funding, or are they just optimistic cheerleaders? Also, are they stepping up to be the project sponsor? If not, brace yourself for another round of the "Let’s-Pretend-This-Is-Important" game.
3. Are they in it for the long haul? A sponsor needs to have three things: commitment, knowledge of what this project is supposed to do, and the stamina to see it through. If they’re just looking for a quick win to impress their boss, you might be saddled with another slow-motion failure.
4. Does the project even make sense anymore? If the business case was weak last time, that could explain why everyone abandoned ship. Check if it’s still relevant. Otherwise it’s a sequel to the "Who Can Ignore This the Longest?" franchise.
5. What’s competing for resources? Are there bigger, shinier projects that will drain away your people and budget the moment things get tough? If your project isn’t a priority now, it won’t be six months from now either—except maybe as a future "lessons learned" cautionary tale.

If, after this reality check, the project looks like it might stand on its own two feet, go for it. But don’t keep your findings to yourself—share them with the key players and team members. If you’re skeptical, they probably are too. Better to address doubts upfront than watch history repeat itself.

Good luck—and maybe keep a eulogy handy, just in case.

Bonnie

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If you have a project-related question, add it in the Comments section or send me a message on LinkedIn.

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