I recommend you start every project with a kickoff meeting. The kickoff meeting can be the most important meeting of the project, because it sets the stage for the rest of the project, solidifies your rapport with your client and is your opportunity to get clear on all terms and the nuts and bolts of how you will deliver your project and your specific outputs. If you are an independent professional, the handover and the kickoff may be the same event. However it’s still important to have a clear “starting moment” for the work that you’ll do, and it’s also important to make sure you have clear definitions and expectations for what you are supposed to deliver. I’ve created a template for a Kickoff Meeting Agenda that will ensure you cover the most important points. These are:
- The scope of your work
- Your work plan
- The resources you will use to deliver the work
- Financials, and
- Administration
