A smarter way to plan for the future
Most of us have been part of a post-mortem — that debrief after something goes wrong, where we try to figure out what happened and how to prevent it next time. A pre-mortem flips that idea on its head. You imagine a failure has already happened, and then make a plan to prevent this from becoming a reality.
Coined by psychologist Gary Klein, the pre-mortem isn’t about being pessimistic — it’s about being prepared. It’s a way to identify potential risks before they derail you.
When we’re excited about an idea, optimism bias can take over. We naturally downplay risks and overestimate success. A pre-mortem counters that, as it invites critical thinking. It also reduces anxiety. Instead of worrying ‘what if this goes wrong’, you’re asking yourself ‘what would I do if it did?’ This shift can help you feel more in control.
Picture failure. Imagine it’s six months from now and your plan, project, or goal has completely flopped. What happened?
Write down the reasons. List every possible reason for the failure.
Review and adjust. Use your list to stress-test your plan. Where are the weak points? What can you change or strengthen?
You can use this technique in work or daily life. It’s a helpful way to reality-check your thinking and create a stronger, more flexible plan.
You might not be able to prevent every failure, but by thinking through the things that could go wrong, you give yourself a better chance of getting things right.