Essential Steps for Smooth and Successful Transitions
When you’re approaching the end of a project, it’s tempting to think you can just check a few boxes and move on. But the project closure phase is about so much more than that.
Done right, project closure sets the foundation for smoother projects in the future. By following a few key steps, you can ensure you close every project successfully, and at the same time, lessen your stress.
Tip One: Initiate a Proper Project Handover
Once you’ve completed your project deliverable, you might think you’re done… but hold on! Initiating project handover is also a critical part of the project closure process.
That means you need to:
- Gather key stakeholders – business owner, end user, steering committee, and sponsor.
- Confirm that project objectives and deliverables have been met to everyone’s satisfaction.
- Review the charter and ensure alignment on outcomes and expectations.
- Get signed agreement that the project is complete
Tip Two: Hold an After Action Review (AAR)
At the close of every project, you should take time to reflect on how things went with an After Action Review (AAR).
This isn’t just about you and your team reviewing this project’s successes and challenges and identifying what may have gone wrong. It’s also about documenting those lessons learned to help everyone on projects in the future.
Part of what supports smooth projects transitions going forward is knowing what worked and what didn’t in the past.
More Tips for Smooth Project Closures
There are a few more tips I want to share about closing your projects like a pro, but I want to make sure I explain them all clearly, so I put together a video. It explains:
- Why you need a skeleton crew in place after handing off your deliverable, AND how to set them up for success.
- How to wrap up documentation with company standards and compliance in mind.
- The one key thing you mustn’t skip when closing the loop with your project
Follow me over to YouTube and we’ll keep chatting about this!
Cheers,
Adriana Girdler, PMP | Creator of Slay Project Management™
