Most organizations take on too many projects, many of which no longer serve a strategic purpose. While starting initiatives feels exciting, failing to stop them wastes time, drains energy, and slows down transformation. Here’s how to reverse that trend. 

Make continuation a choice, not a default. Projects shouldn’t coast on inertia. Instead of passive updates, require every sponsor to justify continued investment. Ask: “Would you recommend this project to the board today?” Make project continuation a conscious decision. 

Create real tradeoffs. Force prioritization by capping funding and talent. To start something new, stop something else. This triggers sharper thinking, surfaces forgotten work, and trims bloated portfolios. 

Time-box everything. Shorten projects to three or six months. At each milestone, reassess: Should we pivot, stop, or invest more? This approach builds flexibility and removes the stigma of sunsetting. 

Celebrate stopping. Don’t just reward launches. Recognize leaders who reallocate resources from low-impact work to high-value priorities. Make stopping a sign of strength, not failure. 

Guarantee “safe landings.” When people know their roles won’t disappear, they’re more willing to recommend cutting stalled work. Protect jobs, reassign talent quickly, and free energy for what matters most.

Adapted from Your Company Needs to Focus on Fewer Projects. Here’s How. by Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez

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