A powerful method for planning your projects
One of the simplest and most effective ideas in project management is planning backwards. Unlike traditional planning, which takes you step by step towards a goal, this method invites you to start at the end: imagine the desired result, then plan the steps needed to get there.
Why plan backwards?
There are several advantages to working from the end to the beginning:
- You can better visualise the connections between the different tasks.
- Constraints (time, budget, resources) become clearer.
- You create coherent and realistic work plans.
Another benefit that is often overlooked has to do with the way our brains work. Imagining the future is an abstract exercise that can overwhelm us. By contrast, imagining the past – the past we hope to have achieved – is a much more natural and intuitive exercise.
So how do you go about it?
Take an event you have in mind. If you’re planning ahead, you’ll probably be thinking about logistics: a room, furniture, a caterer… A functional approach, but sometimes limited.
On the other hand, if you start from the end, you’ll ask yourself:
- How do you want to feel at the end of the project?
- What will the participants say about it?
- What memories or impressions will they have?
These questions force you to go beyond the simple logistical execution and make you think about the overall experience.
The importance of saying thank you
While the end of a project is often overlooked, it is also one of its most important moments. That’s why, right from the start of a project, writing a model thank-you letter can transform the way you plan.
This letter should include :
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People or groups to thank:
Who will be your key partners and what roles will they have played?
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Successes to celebrate:
What are the victories or discoveries you will wish to share?
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Your greatest source of pride:
What, once accomplished, will make you feel successful?
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Your plans for the future:
What will be the next steps after this project?
A tool to clarify your ambitions
This imagined letter becomes a powerful strategic tool. It encourages you to think ambitiously and identify what’s really important to you. In turn, it guides your choices: the objectives you want to achieve, the people you want to involve and the experience you want to create.
A practice worth adopting
Starting a project by writing a thank you letter is not just a stylistic exercise. It’s a simple but highly effective way of turning your vision into concrete action. By placing your thanks at the heart of your planning, you give your project a human dimension that is ambitious and deeply aligned with your values.
What if your next project started with a thank-you note?