What do you do if deadlines are slipping through the cracks as an entrepreneur?

When deadlines begin to slip, the first step is to thoroughly assess the situation. Understand the extent of the delay, its causes, and its potential impact on your business. Review your project timeline, consult with your team, and evaluate your resources. This process isn't about assigning blame but gaining a clear picture of the current status. Only with this understanding can you develop a plan to get back on track.

Understanding the reality is the most important task in any situation. See if you know the real issue and communicate early if you see there is a chance for the deadline to be missed. Also have more stringent internal timelines in such a way that even if we miss the internal ones the public commitment can be met comfortably. Also make sure your team buys in to the vision

Recuperar el control de los plazos como emprendedor requiere una combinación de planificación, organización, delegación, y el uso de herramientas adecuadas. Evaluar la situación, ajustar estrategias, y mantener una comunicación clara con tu equipo son pasos fundamentales para asegurar el cumplimiento de los plazos y el éxito de tu negocio. ¿Qué haría yo? Tomaría estas medidas proactivas para asegurar que los plazos no se escapen y que el negocio siga avanzando de manera eficiente.

Only armed with this clarity can you begin to formulate an effective plan for regaining momentum. By addressing the root causes and realizing your strategy, you pave the way for a successful course correction, ensuring that your project is aligned with its goals and timelines.

Knowing the cause is key. Is it because of procrastination, taking on more than one can chew, or overpromising on deadlines and not being able to deliver? I find having that clarity helps me discern the next step

This approach is not about neglecting responsibilities, but about focusing your resources where they can make the greatest impact. By being ruthless in prioritizing, you ensure that every ounce of energy contributes directly to moving your business forward and meeting its most important obligations.

There was a time I was paralysed by the one million things on my to do list. What really helped was Michael Hyatt’s series of books and full focus planner. Changed my life. Focusing on weekly big 3 tasks that move the needle and getting them done

Prioritizing tasks effectively is crucial for managing your workload and ensuring your business thrives. Start by identifying the most critical deadlines and focus your efforts on those. This might mean postponing or even dropping less urgent tasks. The goal is to be strategic and decisive, concentrating on activities that will propel your business forward and meet your most pressing commitments. By doing so, you'll maximize productivity and ensure you're addressing the most impactful tasks first.

Effective communication not only maintains trust but also allows you to get the time needed to address issues. Keeping people informed and demonstrating proactive measures can promote understanding and cooperation, reducing the impact of delays on relationships and outcomes.

We're all human. So when things aren't going as planned, just say so. Being an entrepreneur doesn't make it any different but you have to pursue a different way of looking at things for sure. First of all, you have to be open and honest. Hearing others out can really help you in most cases. Be clear about what you need and when you need it. Instead of "I need this soon," try "Could you get this to me by Wednesday afternoon?" It helps everyone stay on the same page. That's what I always have been doing. We're all learning here. Communication is a skill, and like any skill, it takes practice. 💯

I struggled with trying to please clients and shift deadlines nearer when I knew it was going to be tight. Causing much stress. Now, I state the deadline up front, with more than sufficient time, so I can get to the ideal state of underpromising and over delivering instead of the other way around

Clear communication is key when you are dealing with missed deadlines or any kind of problems. Communicate effectively with clients to rebuild trust and make sure to prevent any kind of issues in future.

Absolutely, clear communication is crucial in managing missed deadlines. By promptly informing stakeholders, clients, or customers about the delay, you demonstrate transparency and responsibility. Providing a clear explanation and a concrete plan to address the issue can help maintain trust and show that you're proactive in resolving the situation. Keeping everyone informed not only helps manage expectations but also fosters understanding and cooperation. People appreciate honesty and the effort to keep them in the loop.

How did they become "deadlines" in the first place? Why were they not attended to, addressed, or completed within the required timelines? At some point, a process—technical or human—messed up. Take corrective steps to plug the process loopholes in the future so that alarms are in place for project completion before deadlines. As for the deadlines that have already slipped through the cracks, take all required steps to find alternates for extensions, putting in additional manpower and the entire might of the business to meet the commitment. Inform all stakeholders of the emerging situations and, most importantly, communicate solutions and consequences. Take follow-up steps to deal with consequences, especially damaging ones.

Absolutely! Slipping deadlines can indeed be a sign that something needs to change in your workflow. It's a great idea to take a step back and assess where improvements can be made. Are there bottlenecks that slow things down? Maybe some tasks could be automated or delegated. Introducing new tools or systems might also help streamline operations. By refining your processes, you can enhance efficiency and ensure smoother project completion in the future. Working smarter, not harder, is definitely the way to go!

What do you do when as an entrepreneur deadlines are facing through the cracks? I always say, freak you not. Breathe in Breathe out. Take it easy. That way you'll approach the issue at hand with a solution mentality and tenacity. Now reorganise and find out ways to play around with the constraints of Budget and cost since time is already stretched. For instance you'd allocate an extra budget to afford additional team members to afford a time stretch down. #winstontony ©TheBrandCoach™ #TWiC

Learn from your mistakes and try your best to avoid any such kind of mistakes in the future. As a leader, it's your responsibility to support your team members and draft a plan together to achieve your business objectives together.