A pre-mortem asks your team to imagine a project has already failed, then write down why, before you commit. Because failure is the assignment, people name risks they would never raise in a normal review.
What it helps you achieve: a ranked list of real risks, with one owner and a date for each action, plus the early warning signs you will watch.
Who it is for: project leads, managers, and anyone kicking off a new project, investment, or deal, especially one your team has never run before.
How to use it (45 minutes):
1. Set the scene: it is 12 to 24 months from now and the project failed.
2. Everyone writes reasons alone for 5 to 10 minutes, one per sticky.
3. Share one reason per person per round. The most senior person goes last.
4. Sort the reasons into the 5 risk areas: scale, money at risk, owner's experience, fit with what you already do, and policy and legal.
5. Turn the top 3 risks into actions with one owner and a date.
6. Agree on early warning signs and the dates you will revisit them.
Source and full guide with a real case: https://pickenough.com/pre-mortem/
