Ask every decision participant to write down a private failure scenario before group discussion. Sort risks by consequence, warning signal, controllability and the evidence that would change their mind. Invite a colleague with no performance upside in the preferred answer. Rotate the person arguing for the status quo, pivot and reversible experiment.
| Failure statement | Early warning | Mitigation | Owner | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New market has no paying urgency | Buyers do not prioritise a paid pilot | Narrow customer segment, test payment | Commercial lead | Checkpoint date |
| Hiring burns runway before value | Time-to-productivity exceeds forecast | Stage hire, use interim support | CEO + finance | Monthly |
| Funding offer weakens future choices | Rights or dilution differ from expectations | Counsel review + scenario cap table | CEO + counsel | Before signing |
Deliverables: Pre-Mortem Workbook, 3 highest-severity risks, assigned actions. Pitfall: allowing the most senior participant to answer first.