Overview

Turn project planning on its head with this proactive Pre-Mortem Brainstorm template. Instead of waiting until things go wrong, this structured approach helps teams identify potential failures before they happen by imagining a future where the project has already failed.

Key Features

• Comprehensive risk categorization (Strategy, Execution, Communication, Team, External)
• Impact and likelihood assessment framework
• Structured brainstorming table for capturing potential failures
• Clear ownership assignment for mitigation plans
• Built-in next steps section to ensure follow-through

How to Use

1. Schedule a dedicated pre-mortem session with key stakeholders
2. Fill in your project details at the top
3. Use the prompt to guide team thinking toward potential failure points
4. Categorize risks and document mitigation strategies in the brainstorming table
5. Prioritize the most critical risks and assign owners for follow-up actions

This template works especially well during project kickoffs or before major milestones to prevent problems rather than just react to them.