**Source:** https://heykiku.com/glossary/handoff

# Handoff

**Bad handoffs are where projects go to die**. A designer finishes their work, throws files over the wall to development, and moves on. A strategist briefs an execution team via email, assumes everything's clear, and disappears into another project. An account manager goes on vacation, leaving no notes about in-progress client conversations.

Each of these scenarios creates the same problem: **lost context**. The receiving team doesn't have what they need. They make assumptions that turn out to be wrong. They deliver work that misses the mark. The handoff that saved ten minutes costs hours of rework.

Effective handoffs require structure. A standard format for what information must transfer. Clear expectations for both parties. **Documentation that exists independently** of the person handing off. When handoffs are systematic, context doesn't depend on memory or availability.

The test of a good handoff is whether **the work could continue if the original person vanished**. If it could, you've successfully transferred knowledge. If it couldn't, you've created a dependency that will eventually cause problems.

## Related terms

- [Tribal Knowledge](https://heykiku.com/glossary/tribal-knowledge)
- [Kickoff Meeting](https://heykiku.com/glossary/kickoff-meeting)
- [QA Checklist](https://heykiku.com/glossary/qa-checklist)
- [Deliverable](https://heykiku.com/glossary/deliverable)
- [Account Handover](https://heykiku.com/glossary/account-handover)
- [White Label](https://heykiku.com/glossary/white-label)