Preparing and Running a Kickoff Meeting - Team Scholarship Acceleration Lab

Kick-off Meeting Procedures and Checklist

Start with team icebreakers to initiate the team-building process.
- Have team members introduce themselves and talk about their area(s) of expertise.
Introduce the team leader or project manager.
Define the objectives and scope of the project
- What is the purpose of this project? Answer the question, “Why does it matter to the group?”
- What does a successful outcome look like? How is success measured for the overall team and for team members?
- Share the goals and vision statement of the project.
Initial project plan
- What needs to be done immediately to start the project and to build momentum?
Clarify project requirements
- What needs to be accomplished for the project to be completed?
- Does the project move in phases? If so, what are those phases? Do responsibilities shift in those phases?
Clarify Role Requirements
- What responsibilities will different team members have?
- Clarify this point sooner rather than later so members feel like the division of labor is fair and equitable.
Present the Project Plan
Present a timeline that includes milestones for team members to track progress
Get Team Commitment
- Have something that team members can read and individually sign.
- Formalize a working relationship (see team charters).

Hamburger, D. (1992). Project kick-off: getting the project off on the right foot. International Journal of Project Management, 10(2), 115–122. doi:10.1016/0263-7863(92)90064-g.
Atlassian Team Playbook: Project Kick-Off