Your Project Was a Flop. Now What? Three Things to do to Bounce Back.

Listen, no one starts a project expecting it to fail, right? But let's be real: sometimes, things don’t go according to plan, no matter how much we try. It’s tough, but the way we handle these bumps in the road can really set the stage for our future successes. Let’s walk through some practical steps on managing project obstacles gracefully and effectively.

1. Conduct a Post-Mortem Review

It’s crucial to get to the bottom of what didn’t work out. This isn’t about pointing fingers; it’s about understanding the WHY behind the what so that we can do better next time. Hold a no-blame post-mortem (sometimes also referred to as lessons learned or a retroactive) with your team. Make it clear that the goal is to learn and improve, not to blame. Bring everyone involved together and go through the project to identify where things started to veer off course. Use structured yet open-ended questions to guide the discussion, ensuring everyone’s perspective is heard.

2. Communicate Openly with Stakeholders

Clear communication is everything. In times of trouble, being transparent can actually strengthen the trust your stakeholders have in you. When it’s time for that read-out report, prepare a detailed yet straightforward summary that outlines what happened and what’s being done about it. Know your stakeholders, so if they prefer calls then don’t just email it out—arrange that call to go through the findings together. This shows that you’re fully engaged and committed to not only solving the problem but also to maintaining a transparent relationship with your stakeholders about the project.

3. Implement Lessons Learned into Future Projects

Every project teaches us something. Turning these lessons into actionable changes is how we grow as professionals. After the post-mortem/retro call, create a ‘lessons learned’ document with resolutions for improvements that will actually be useful to present and future teams. Make it accessible, keep it updated regularly, and refer to it during the planning stages of your future projects as needed. This can be a shared digital document that everyone contributes to, turning it into a valuable resource for the whole team.

Now What?

Think ahead about how to handle potential issues with your projects, and have a post mortem/retrospective process in place. Outline specific steps to recover quickly if things go sideways, and make sure these strategies are well understood by your team, including who is accountable for certain action items.

Getting through a project flop is tough, but think of it as an invaluable learning opportunity. With a clear post-mortem, honest communication, and a commitment to learning from mistakes, you're setting yourself and your team up for a stronger comeback. Keep your chin up—we’ve all been there, and remember — the key is to keep learning and keep growing.

If you’re experiencing challenges in your current project and program management structure, let me know if I can help.

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