Almost everyone can attest that things do not always work out the way you plan. While plans are key for successfully achieving goals, most will say that they are only half the battle. Implementation can be rocky and often includes many setbacks, and it is for this reason that we create back-up or contingency plans.

Contingency plans are formal strategies that usually include a list of things that can potentially go wrong with your project. Contingency plans also include specific actions to manage these problems and a system for monitoring the project to ensure efficient responses.

When creating contingencies, there are ten steps that help ensure the most effective and thorough plans.

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Be aware that many people can get stuck in over-planning or do too much contingency planning. This can be dangerous and detrimental to the organization. Remember, the project clearly has a goal. If you don’t take action, then you can’t achieve your goals.

If you have a feeling that you may be doing too much planning or someone has mentioned to you that it is taking too long, you may want to assess the likelihood that you are over-planning. 

Now that you've taken a look at project level contingency planning, let's address at your employees and succession planning for important roles within your organization.

Learn more about Succession Planning – get a FREE Succession Planning Process Overview report by clicking below.