What do you do if your team is struggling to meet project deadlines in a small business context?

1.) Identify the issue: Assess why deadlines are being missed. 2.) Prioritize tasks: Focus on high-impact items. 3.) Improve communication: Hold regular check-ins. 4.) Allocate resources wisely: Match tasks to skills. 5.) Set realistic deadlines: Adjust as needed. 6.) Support and motivate: Provide tools, training, and encouragement. 7.) Learn and adapt: Document lessons for future projects. The last point is very important as learning is vital. Taking these steps can help address the challenges your team is facing and improve their ability to meet deadlines in the future.

Call a team meeting. Ask team members if they have the tools required to do the work. If yes, task each member to identify bottlenecks either to during or after they have completed their assignment. If a bottleneck is caused by an outside force, notify management it is not within the team’s control. Require an extension of the deadline until the bottleneck is resolved. Another cause could be that the deadline was not realistic. When setting team goals, use the SMART process. R being realistic and T being timely. Finally, reassess communication channels.

Identify bottlenecks: Identify bottlenecks and constraints that are contributing to the team's missed deadlines, and take steps to address these issues, such as redistributing work or adjusting project timelines. Foster collaboration: Foster collaboration among team members, encouraging them to support one another and providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed.

Wenn es Verspätungen gibt, dann liegt es oft daran, dass im Unternehmen keine Kultur der Pünktlichkeit und kein Respekt vor dem Zeiteinsatz anderer existieren. Beginne damit, Meetings auf die Minute zu beginnen und zu beenden (oder früher, wenn ihr fertig seid). Wenn jemand zum Zweiergespräch nicht auf die Minute da ist, findet es nicht statt. Wenn jemand nicht so vorbereitet ist, dass alles zeitlich rein passt, dann wird der Rest nicht besprochen. Ergebnis: Zeit und Respekt vor den Vereinbarungen mit anderen nehmen zu und das wirkt sich auch auf sämtliche Projekte aus.

A project has four basic components: Scope Specification Time Money If a project is at risk of not meeting a deadline it is due to issues in one or more of these areas. Typically it’s a scope issue. Scope creep is when your client wants you to do more than the original agreed scope. And they don’t want you to invoice them for the additions! Scope seep is when you do more for the client than was agreed. Any change in scope will have a significant knock on effect on specification, time and money. I did a project where any delays in time or budget incurred a liquidated penalty charge of $80,000 per week! Those four areas are intimately linked. So educate your team… or clients.