Play: Team Kick-Off

When To Run The Play

Once the pitch has been sold, the team can be assembled.

Why Run The Play

To give the project team everything need to do their best work

What is an Internal Kick-Off?

From doing this a few things happen;

• Team members understand the client and the audience that they are designing and building for
• Team members understand the scope of the problem, the parameters they are working within, and what success looks like
• Team members understand their role in the project, and what is expected of them
• Team members receive what they need to do their job exceptionally, or they have confidence that those things will arrive at a specific time that still gives them what they need.

Rules

1. Everyone who sold the project needs to attend so that no information is lost
2. All project team members need to attend so that the team kick off aligned
3. It is the Sales team’s job to explain the project and the requirements in sufficient detail and context

How To Run The Play

The focus of this meeting is to pass information from the sales team to the project team. For the project team, this means understanding the client, the problem, and what shape the solution is taking.

Step 1 — Create The Board (Producers)

• Create a Mural board with the agenda and project information you have. Use the existing proposals or pitches to map out as much information as we currently have e.g. objectives, milestones, references.

Internal Kick-Off Mural Template

• Discuss the ‘Way We Deliver’ with Dpt heads and make sure there is consensus on the production approach before the full meeting with the team

Step 2 — Execute The Session

1. Start the session by ensuring everyone has access and understands the objectives of the session. If they don’t then revisit this Play to define those things
2. The Client should be explained by the people who sold in the project. This is often missed and not discussed in enough detail when briefing teams. We shouldn’t assume that just because a company is well known, that everyone knows what they do and who their competitors are.
3. The Ambition should also be delivered by the People who sold in the project. It’s particularly important to ensure that this is clear and all the key people in the business, as well as the project team, are clear on this point. If it’s not shared and understood at this stage, it can significantly impact the ‘success of the project later on.
4. The Solution should be delivered by the people who sold in the project, and any studio members who worked on the materials that were produced to do so.
5. The Way We Deliver should be driven by the producer on the project, in conjunction with the Heads of Dpt, as previously agreed upon. The details of the approach or methodology should be shared.
6. Define which Plays will be used and when. Agree with the team which Plays are needed.