We’ve all been there. A project goes off track and you are left wondering, “How did I not see this coming?”
The Premortem flips the script. Instead of asking why something failed after it fails, you imagine failure before it happens, and use those insights to prevent it.
You’ve probably heard the word postmortem in detective shows. It’s the examination of a body to find the cause of death. A premortem is similar, but it happens before the death, or in our case, before the project fails.
What Is a Premortem
The Premortem is a risk assessment exercise developed by psychologist Gary Klein. It is widely used in business, startups, healthcare, and even the military.
Instead of focusing only on optimism, you acknowledge the possibility of failure. You ask yourself, “It’s five months from now, and this project has failed spectacularly. What went wrong?”
A Premortem can be done alone or with your team. Each team member imagines why the project might fail, and together you uncover potential risks, blind spots, and weak points.
Why It’s Useful
Most people and teams go wrong on the side of optimism. Once they make a plan, they subconsciously start discarding any thought or argument that goes against its success. They assume things will work out or even silence doubts to maintain harmony. The Premortem does the opposite. It legitimizes doubt and turns it into a tool for success.
By anticipating problems, you:
- Identify hidden risks before they hit you.
- Create contingency plans.
- Strengthen your strategy.
- Increase team buy-in by listening to all concerns.
How to run a Premortem
Imagine you’re leading a team:
- Set the scene – It’s five months from now, and the project has failed
- Individual Reflection – Ask “What went wrong?” Then, each person privately writes down possible causes.
- Share & Collect – Collect everyone’s reasons for failure.
- Prioritize – Identify the most likely or impactful risks.
- Plan Ahead – Turn risks into preventive actions.
Example
Imagine launching a new product. In the Premortem, the team identifies:
- Weak market research – product doesn’t meet customer needs.
- Technical bugs – delays release.
- Competitor launches first – reduced market share.
- Poor internal communication – wasted effort.
By spotting problems upfront, the team strengthens customer research, builds testing buffers, monitors competitors, and sets clearer roles.
When to Use It
- Before major product launches
- Strategic decisions with high stakes
- Complex projects involving many teams
- Anytime uncertainty is high
Try It Today
You can run premortem as an individual or as a team. Think of a project you’re working on. Imagine it has failed. Write down why. Then ask yourself, “What can I do today to prevent this?”
That’s the power of the Premortem. It turns hindsight into foresight.
