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Model / Deliver a Project / Prove It Works / Be Ready to Step Away
Rule 12 of 12

Be Ready to Step Away.

It’s easy to keep going, even when things go wrong. Measure what matters so you know if the project is worth continuing.

A person walking calmly away beside a bright yellow wall.

Seek clarity on:

  • —What would tell you to continue or stop
  • —Which measures matter most
  • —Whether the benefits still justify the cost

Stick it out too long, and you risk dragging everyone into a bad place when people realise the project, option or approach is a dud. If you cannot throw a proverbial bucket of cold water over yourself and the project directors, you risk constantly chasing your tail and digging a deeper hole.

“People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are.” Steve Jobs

Questions to reflect on

You do not need to complete everything. Use what helps.

What would tell us it is time to stop?

Know when to quit. Create measures for success. If your solution isn’t on track to deliver, be ready to stop and walk away. Confirm the benefits of doing your project outweigh the costs. Know that, as humans, we are hardwired to keep digging and often struggle to let go of something we’ve started.

  • What measures matter most?
  • What would show the solution is not on track?
  • When would the benefits no longer outweigh the costs?

Why is this so hard?

It’s easy to keep going, even when things go wrong. Measure what matters so you know if the project is worth continuing.

  • Where are we already too committed?
  • Who needs to hear hard truths early?
  • What would help us stop digging if the work is not delivering?

OptionalUse a Readiness Check to pause and reflect before moving on.

Readiness Check

Go deeper

Related Plays

Access tools, templates and scripts. Choose a play.

Decide to continue, learn more, or stop

Measure what matters and decide whether the project should continue, learn more first, or stop.

Explore Play

Decision Quality

Check a live project decision against six decision quality areas before committing.

Explore Play

Further reading

  1. Article

    Mega-projects need value clarity, not just better governance

    Better governance helps, but big projects also need clearer assumptions and a clearer view of value before they become expensive to change.

    Read
  2. Article

    One quick way to feel on top of your projects

    Everything cannot be equally important. Use the free readiness check to identify one thing to improve next.

    Read

Ready to move on?

If you can measure what matters and decide clearly whether to continue, you are ready for the next job of delivering and embedding the solution.

Continue to Make It Happen Return to Prove It Works

Confluity Project Model sitemap

Model overview

What are Jobs?

The model is organised into three Jobs:

Job 1: Set the Direction – shape the purpose into options and a preferred way forward.

Job 2: Prove It Works – test assumptions and reduce risk before going big.

Job 3: Make It Happen – deliver at scale and make sure people actually use what you build.

What are Simple Rules?

The model contains simple rules. These are short principles drawn from experience that help you make better decisions. Jobs, tasks, and plays help you put those rules into practice.

What is a Play?

A Play is a method or tool that helps you apply a rule or complete a task. Use the recommended Plays first for simpler projects before exploring others.

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