Q&A: What should I do when my boss is the one delaying the project?
What should I do when my boss is the one delaying the project?
It’s common to deal with delays in a project, and most project managers have had to handle a project team member who is behind on their tasks or deliverables. But when our boss or other leaders are responsible for the delay, we are officially in tricky territory.
Consider their Role and your Relationship
Before taking any action (or praying inaction will resolve the issue), it’s important to consider the leader’s role in the project and your relationship with them:
Their Role: What have we been asking our boss or leader to do? Make decisions? Sign off on plans or deliverables? Attend meetings? Create or share communications? Our goal is to clearly understand the role we have been asking them to play in the project and what they have contributed so far.
Your Relationship: How would you describe your relationship? How have you approached communicating in the past? How have you both handled challenges and difficult conversations? It’s important to understand your current relationship and communication style before planning to communicate about the project.
Clarify your Ask (and Bring Solutions!)
The next step is to clarify what you need from them to support the project, which may be different than what they have been asked to do thus far. What exactly do you need them to do to move the project forward? When do you need it by? Why is it important? What is the impact of a delay?
You also want to be ready with solutions. If approving each deliverable or attending weekly meetings is not working, what are some alternatives? Perhaps there are ways you can make it easier for them to contribute to the project. A change in role may also be a solution. Is there someone else who can handle their tasks?
Initiate a Conversation
The only way out is through, so I recommend scheduling a time to talk with your boss or leader about the project. Plan your approach to the discussion based on your relationship, and be prepared to discuss your clear ask and offer solutions. Avoid being accusatory and instead focus on problem-solving. It may help to start the conversation by letting them know that your goal is to get their input to move the project forward.
Ideally, your meeting will result in a workable approach to avoid future delays. If it doesn’t, it’s important to focus on what you can control. Do what you can to make sure they have what they need to contribute to the project, but it may be necessary to revise the schedule to reflect anticipated delays.
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