How to Run a Project Kickoff Meeting

Step by step

1. Invite the sponsor, team and key stakeholders.

2. Share the project purpose and business case.

3. Review scope, including what is out of scope.

4. Present the timeline, milestones and budget.

5. Clarify roles and responsibilities (RACI).

6. Explain how you’ll communicate, report status and handle changes.

7. Close with questions and next steps.

Safety reminders for project managers

• On construction and industrial projects, build safety into plans and schedules
• Protect confidential project and customer data
• Document decisions and approvals
• Escalate risks early to sponsors

Key terms

Scope · Scope creep · WBS · Gantt chart · Critical path · Milestone: see the full project manager glossary.

More project manager how-to guides

• How to build a work breakdown structure
• How to create a RACI matrix