Risk Register

Not everything is on fire — but a few things could be. The risk register is a short, honest list of what might derail opening day, so you’re watching the real threats instead of reacting to whatever shouted loudest this morning.

What it’s for

An open item is something to do. A risk is something that might happen and would hurt if it did — the internet install slipping, a long-lead chair order, a permit that hasn’t cleared. Naming them early turns “we got blindsided” into “we saw that coming and had a backup.”

Keep it short. Five to ten real risks you actually watch beats a long list nobody reads. This isn’t enterprise risk management — it’s a compressed-move early-warning sheet.

How to use it

Brainstorm risks at the start (the playbook’s “initial risk list”), then add as they appear.
Score likelihood and impact in plain words — High / Medium / Low. (No traffic-light colors needed; the words carry it.)
Give every risk a mitigation and an owner. A risk with no plan is just a worry.
Review the top risks at your weekly update; promote any that’s materializing into an open item.

The structure

Risk	Likelihood	Impact	Owner	Mitigation / next action	Status
Internet circuit not live by opening	Medium	High	J. Park	Confirm install date; line up hotspots as backup	Watching
Conference table won’t fit freight elevator	Low	High	A. Lee	Measure vs. elevator this week	Watching
Furniture install slips	Medium	Medium	A. Lee	Confirm delivery date; hold install crew	Mitigated

Tips

Impact on opening day is the lens. Score risks by what they’d do to a Minimum Viable Opening, not to perfection.
Every risk gets a backup plan. “What do we do if this happens?” is the whole point.
Retire risks out loud. When one passes, mark it closed — it’s reassuring and keeps the list honest.

See the full workstream: Project Control.