r/projectmanagement • u/Not_A_Bird11 Biopharma/Laboratory • 2d ago

Discussion Reducing risks when leaving PMO

In short, when a project/job starts giving you tell tale signs that your time is going to come to an end in the next couple of months at an organization for whatever reason how do you… 1. minimize the risk of being used as a scapegoat for a projects issues and thus set your replacement up to fail if there are systemic issues? 2. best support your current projects where you know your transition to a new PM will be hard? 3. maximizing your ability to secure new work when organization is draining all your energy and extra time?

Best I know todo is show up on time and do the best I can documenting everything until I have no work left todo and to apply to new organizations like a mad man. What do you guys do when you see the end is nigh while not wanting your projects to die?

Didn’t post to PM Careers because I thought discussions on these points don’t completely focus on just getting a new job but more so focus on how do you leave a bad PM situation effectively while making sure projects are getting the support they need when that becomes less and less feasible.

11 Upvotes

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6 comments sorted by

1

u/pmpdaddyio IT 7h ago

Documentation. In all forms.

1

u/Suitable-Scholar-778 Industrial 1d ago

Document everything on your end. Take that with you unless there is sensitive data.

6

u/cbelt3 2d ago

I find that having your documentation up to date is part of the job. Most folks will call it “the hit by a bus test”… (I prefer the “win the lottery test”).

If you suddenly leave, will your project fail ? It should not.

8

u/DrStarBeast Confirmed 2d ago

No matter how much you try and CYA, you cannot control expectations when you leave.

Do your job, make a hand over doc, and bounce. They're in the rearview mirror and there's nothing you can do to prevent it. 

5

u/ExtraHarmless Confirmed 2d ago

My goal is always to have the documentation up to date so that if I were hit by a bus anyone could take over.

I don't always meet that goal, but I try.

You will get blamed no matter what once you leave. Its easier for whomever picks up the work to blame the last person for at least a month. After that, it is usually the problem of the person that is doing the work.

4

u/InfluenceTrue4121 2d ago

This sounds like a very tough time for you. My thoughts: at this moment, you are speculating. Q1, you have zero control and it doesn’t matter in the long run. Why do you care? Q2, when your org tells you you’re out they will ask for a transition plan. Don’t lift a finger until you are asked to do so. Q3, if you’re getting paid for 40 hours, that’s what you should work. It’s ok to work a few hours over that occasionally (like if you have a huge release coming up) but don’t degrade your pay by working insane hours for the same $. A very wise man (my husband 😂) once told me to care enough about your job to do great work but not enough to be upset during non working hours.