Project managers spend about 90% of their time communicating, according to the Project Management Institute (PMI). Yet many organizations still launch projects without a real communication plan. That omission gets paid for in delays, budget overruns, and lost trust.
A key element in ensuring the success of a project is a well-prepared kickoff meeting. This article presents the 7 essential sections to include in the agenda: welcome from sponsors, solution presentation, overall project schedule, team structure, plan for the first 5 weeks, collaboration tools, and project governance. A well-structured launch meeting creates alignment between stakeholders and reinforces team engagement from day 1.