It’s Never Too Late

It’s not too late. Holding a liftoff at the start of the team’s work confers the longest-term benefit. Still, many teams get partway into their work before confronting important unknown issues. They discover that team members hold different expectations for collaboration or communication. Conversations show that team members have different understandings of the mission. Team member skills and the work of the team aren’t a good match. You learn that important contributors aren’t in the loop.

Consider holding a liftoff if you find that your team struggles with issues like those. Liftoff activities can also benefit the team whenever it starts—or restarts. Many of the real-life scenarios in this book describe teams that used a liftoff for a restart. Don’t hesitate to hold a liftoff whenever it’s needed or useful.