How to Run a Premortem (And Why You Should Do It Before Your Next Big Decision)
by Laurie Ruettimann
You’re about to launch a project. Or accept a job offer. Or restructure your team. You’ve done your homework. You feel good.
Now assume it fails.
That’s a premortem, a thinking exercise developed by psychologist Gary Klein to surface risks before you commit. Instead of asking “what could go wrong?” (which invites defensiveness), you assume the thing already failed and work backward: why did it fail?
The shift is small but powerful. It gives people permission to name problems they’d otherwise keep quiet about.
When to Use It
Premortems work best when stakes are high and reversal is expensive:
- Before accepting a job or making a hire
- Before launching a product, campaign, or initiative
- Before committing budget or headcount
- Before signing a contract
- Before any decision you’ll have to live with for a while
How It Works
The full worksheet walks you through six steps, but here’s the core:
- Name what you’re deciding.
- Assume failure. Set a timer for two minutes. Write “This failed because…” at the top of a page and list every reason you can think of—silly, cynical, obvious, uncomfortable. No fixing yet.
- Prioritize. Pick the three most likely or most damaging failure points. Note which one you’d notice too late.
- Mitigate. For each risk, name one action that lowers the odds or limits the damage. Assign an owner.
- Decide. Go ahead, change the plan, pause, or stop.
- Set a date to revisit.
The whole thing takes 10–15 minutes solo, 30 minutes with a team.
Why It Works
Premortems work because they create psychological safety to name problems. When you assume failure upfront, you’re not criticizing the plan. You’re playing a game. That distinction matters, especially in organizations where dissent is risky.
They also counter overconfidence. Most planning exercises focus on how things will succeed. Premortems force you to take the other side seriously.
The Worksheet
I created a company called Glitchpath in 2016 to offer premortems in the workplace. It failed! How ironic. So, instead, I told the story in my book and created a one-page worksheet you can use solo or with a team. It’s free and you can download it here: BASIC PREMORTEM WORKSHEET
Use it, share it, adapt it, but give credit to Dr. Gary Klein for the method. And let me know how it goes.
Laurie Ruettimann is a keynote speaker, executive coach, and author of Betting on You. She writes about work, decisions, and how to stop making the same mistakes twice.