Project beginnings are crucial. There is a great deal of insight on how to go about launching a project

Books, apps, talks, strategies and more. Now that project launched successfully, and the time has run by, there are hints in the air that says that the project is not doing well – those that might not easy to reconcile. Here is where the long drawn out project endings happen. It is especially true in the case of creative pursuits.

Can this be managed better?

Definitely

Here is why closing a project on time is important

• Closures save a project. How often have you come across sitcoms are great but have had an abrupt ending? You can avoid these abrupt endings for your project and make it memorable.
• - Closures set a great tune for the company. It is wise to remember all great ideas come to an end, be it companies that change strategies, outlooks to stay current or founders who leave and later might re-join; or creative projects too. A leader needs to know when to stop. It makes the team trust them more. One often finds integrity is maintained when a leader says “Let’s stop’”.
• Project closure prevents emotional burn-outs. By dragging a project longer than necessary, the ends are often painful. Exchange of bitter e-mails, losing confidence from stakeholder - clients, customers, team-mates etc. and unable to focus on next efforts are all results of bad project close.
• Closures help to free mind-space. All around it is the culture of 'starting'. Tuning the mind to look at 'finishing' is important. If the projects that aren't going well comes to close, it allows employees to breathe.
• Closures save time, money, effort and reputation. While the team builds up the projet putting in their blood, sweat and tears, when things are not working, it is only right that by calling it a day - these memories are made memorable. It holds god for both personal project or projects taken on by companies. Being ok to close a project reflects the accountability of the leader who takes difficult decisions.

We live in a time of agile projects, and slowly the attention is shifting to finishing the project. With this in mind, there are certain elements that you can focus on that can benefit you immensely.

• Re-look: Take the time to review the project honestly from an individual standpoint as well as with your team. Understand how the issues were dealth with, reflect the highs and lows that the project faced. It is important to understand pitfalls in case of premature termination of the project.
• Take pride in good moments, and discuss the short-comings with all team members.
• Document the learnings so that each of them has their take-aways
• Let others know that the project is over. Make the bow over the box look pretty.
• Settle payments to all stakeholders and ensure no backlogs
• In case of an organization, please ensure that you have a handover document ready. The handover procedure is essential to make sure that all aspects of closure are covered. If and when the project is re-launched - it would be easy to pick it up from where it is left off.
• Documenting the project can be of great resource to the organization at a later date.

Gratitude

Being truly thankful to all the stakeholders of the project is crucial. If the project was client-facing, ensure make sure that they leave with good memories. It also helps you to get in touch with them at a later date - since they have already worked with you, it would be easier to convert them. The attitude of gratitude is essential with all stakeholders.

Project closures might be difficult at first. Then you will notice that it is a healthy habit - personally, and for the team. When the word is looking to go agile, closures are equally and more important.