The First 10 Days of a Project

more topics

Establish the Project Backbone

Your first responsibility is stability. Build a draft schedule, confirm milestones, map stakeholders, and outline the delivery path. This becomes the scaffolding the team will rely on—and revise—with confidence.

Clarify Scope and Assumptions

The earliest days are when misunderstandings are cheapest. Document assumptions, constraints, dependencies, and exclusions before anyone starts designing or writing. Validate them with the client to prevent painful surprises later.

Align the Team Before Work Begins

Set expectations for communication rhythms, quality standards, internal deadlines, and how decisions get made. Define roles, handoffs, and responsibilities clearly. Early alignment saves weeks of cleanup downstream.

Secure Quick Wins

Identify one or two small but meaningful early actions—a clarified requirement, a cleaned-up file structure, an early risk flagged. Quick wins build momentum, trust, and confidence across both the team and client.

Make Risks Visible Immediately

Don’t wait for trouble to mature. Begin a simple, living risk log and review it in your first internal meeting. Capture early warning signs, assign owners, and track next steps. Early transparency prevents escalation.

Set the Tone for Communication

Adopt a “no surprises” ethos from day one. Share what changed, why it matters, what options exist, and your recommended path forward. This ensures trust and decisiveness in every interaction.

suggested KPIs for this topic

These KPIs help project managers use the first 10 days of a project to build a solid backbone, clarify scope, align the team, and surface risks early — so the next 10 months run smoother.

designing the project backbone

  • Create a draft project schedule with key milestones and internal deadlines within the first 3–5 days.
  • Define and document the high-level work breakdown structure (WBS) covering all major phases and workstreams.
  • Identify and record all key stakeholders (internal and external) and their roles by day 5.
  • Establish and share a simple RACI or responsibilities map for core activities by day 10.
  • Confirm at least one internal review of the backbone (schedule, WBS, roles) with your sponsor or lead.

clarifying scope, assumptions & constraints

  • Produce a written, one-page “Project on a Page” summary of scope, objectives, and success criteria by day 5.
  • Document a list of key assumptions, constraints, and dependencies and review them with the client by day 10.
  • Capture all open questions and scope clarifications in a log, with owners and due dates for answers.
  • Hold at least one dedicated “Candid Kickoff” conversation to test alignment on scope and success measures.
  • Track how many later scope changes tie back to undocumented assumptions — and aim to reduce this over time.

aligning the team & communication rhythms

  • Hold a project kickoff meeting within the first 3–7 days with all core team members present.
  • Define and document communication rhythms: status meeting cadence, stand-ups, reporting cycles, and channels.
  • Agree on response-time expectations (e.g., email, chat, review turnarounds) and share them with the team.
  • Ensure every core team member can clearly describe their role, the project goals, and what “success” looks like.
  • Set up working tools and spaces (shared folders, trackers, issue logs) before major execution work begins.

quick wins, early risks & client confidence

  • Deliver one or two meaningful quick wins in the first 10 days (e.g., resolving a nagging issue, clarifying a key requirement).
  • Start a simple risk and issues log by day 3 and review it with the team at least once in the first 10 days.
  • Assign owners and due dates to all high-priority early risks or issues identified.
  • Schedule and complete an early client check-in to replay the plan, confirm understanding, and gauge confidence.
  • Capture initial client sentiment (e.g., “green / amber / red” or a quick rating) to baseline trust and alignment.

Choose a KPI from each category to turn your first 10 days into a launchpad for the next 10 months — stabilizing the project, clarifying expectations, and building early trust with both your team and your clients.

Bluey pointing down