Getting SharePoint kickoff meetings right

By Eric Riz

May 23, 2012 —  (Page 1 of 2)
There has been a lot of chatter in the community recently about the next generation of SharePoint: what it will look like, how it will operate, and when it will be released to market. I was having a conversation last week with a client that took us back to SharePoint basics that became the genesis for this article. Regardless of the technology you’re deploying, there are certain steps that have to be taken in order to achieve success, and getting the SharePoint kickoff meeting right is that first step. The SharePoint kickoff meeting is not a new concept, but through this article, I would like to reintroduce it in order to reprioritize its importance.

The SharePoint kickoff meeting is that first meeting between team members, executives and consultants where the vision and direction are established. For me, going onsite to a new client and going through the kickoff is one of my favorite things to do. I get to meet those on the team whom I did not meet during the sales process, introduce our awesome team, brag about the amazing things we’ve done in the past, and explain all that we’re going to do on the project—how we will use SharePoint to make their business stronger, better, more efficient and faster. What could be better than that?

In order to achieve a successful SharePoint kickoff, there are many things that must fall into place, all of which are dependent on your organization’s style, culture and ability to communicate. For example, if your company is an established, formal firm with 50–100 people attending the kickoff, then a more structured approach would be expected. The reverse would be true for a startup with only a few employees attending; this could be much less formal and include more of the people in the room in the presentation and conversation.

Ask yourself these questions before starting your kickoff meeting preparations:

1. What is the message I want to leave people with?
2. How will I communicate our SharePoint project goals?
3. What communication plan will I put in place?
4. How will I engage meeting participants and get them excited about SharePoint?



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