Project closure: shedding a skin or an invitation?
I wrapped up a couple of significant pieces of work this week. As we leave the lunar Year of the Snake and enter the Year of the Fire Horse, the seasonal metaphor of shedding a skin naturally comes to mind. Leaving the past behind sounds appealing - in theory - when approaching project closure. However, on reflection, I realised that a clean, transactional break just doesn’t feel right to me. I have genuinely enjoyed working with these people, and I feel slightly bereft now that our regular interactions have paused.
This made me reflect on the end-of-contract experience and why a more commercial view can feel unnatural.
Moving beyond the transactional myth of project closure
Standard project management methodology provides a rigorous checklist for the closure phase. We obtain formal acceptance of deliverables, archive our records, conduct lessons learned sessions, and finalise the financial transactions. If you work within a larger organisation, this phase can also include a team celebration which feels much like the wrap party after a dramatic production: a joyful, shared exhale after months of intense collaboration.
When you operate as an external partner, that shared celebration rarely happens so naturally. You hand over the final files, send the invoice, and suddenly the shared workspace goes quiet.
Whilst administrative closure is essential for good governance, focusing solely on the mechanics makes the process feel incredibly cold. I might not be there to clink glasses in person, but I am definitely cheering for my clients from my home office.
Good business relies on human relationships rather than mere transactions. A project closure might mark the last time I work with an individual or business but equally, it might just be a pause before our next collaboration. Treating it as a permanent severing of ties ignores the fact that we have spent months deep in the weeds of their livelihood together.
The paradox of the professional adult
I read an insightful post by David Barton recently about what music teachers can learn from teenagers. The premise was that we should see the people in front of us, not the stereotype of teenagers, and that something changes when we do. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that teenagers exist as something of a paradox: they are children and grown-ups all at the same time, and it struck me that so many adults in the professional world are actually the same.
We present polished exteriors and impressive credentials to the world but behind those professional titles, we are all just people trying to navigate complex challenges. We do our best work when we operate in an environment built on mutual trust and genuine respect.
Cultivating an invitation in business
When I think about how to operate my business, I always return to the idea of acting with empathy and integrity. That means looking beyond the immediate tasks to see the human beings involved in the process. My goal is always to bring balance and organisation to the chaos that often accompanies growing a business; true creativity flourishes when people feel secure and supported by the systems around them.
A new client recently mentioned that they wanted their digital presence to serve as an invitation to their clients, not a sales call. That concept resonates deeply with my own approach to systems. When I build a framework, I want it to be an open door for the user to work with more ease and less stress. Project closure should never mean slamming that door shut; it is about leaving a warm light on for the future, whether it be the client being able to move forward more easily, or the potential for another collaboration.
Riding into the lunar new year
I am moving into my new projects carrying the dynamic energy of the Fire Horse. Crucially, I am also carrying the warmth of my past clients with me rather than shedding them like an old skin. Building systems isn’t just about structuring spreadsheets or automating workflows; it is also - and probably more - about caring for the people who will actually use them every day.
If you are currently evaluating how you connect with your own network, I would love to hear your thoughts on building warmer professional relationships.
