Any organization's focus is first and foremost on delivering on time. Missed deadlines cause a cascading effect, increasing pressure on the stages that succeed the bottleneck. One simple way to keep this in check is to organize regular, "On Time Delivery" meetings. This gives all the stakeholders a chance to plan their activities while considering the constraints of the other tasks that need to be completed before the project reaches their department. Also, this is a very good way to increase accountability and raise flags earlier so that the issues can be escalated without necessarily affecting the delivery timeline.

To tackle missed deadlines, start by setting clear, shared goals and communicating their importance. Break down tasks into achievable milestones and assign ownership, ensuring accountability. Foster a culture of collaboration — teamwork makes the dream work, after all! Celebrate quick wins to keep morale high and regularly review progress in short, engaging stand-ups. Address roadblocks with empathy and solutions, not blame. Inspire them with a common purpose — “Great things in business are never done by one person; they’re done by a team of people.” Provide tools, time, and support to eliminate distractions. By aligning personal success with team achievement, you’ll transform deadlines into stepping stones toward shared success.

- Set clear, achievable goals with deadlines. - Break larger tasks into manageable chunks. - Foster accountability through regular check-ins. - Provide support and resources where needed. - Recognize progress and celebrate small wins. - Encourage open communication about challenges. - Reframe missed deadlines as opportunities for improvement.

Fostering a space where it is okay to say no, allows for the team to prioritize tasks and ask for help prioritizing tasks. This will ensure the work they are doing is the most important in the moment. It is also worth noting that as a leader if everything is a “fire drill” soon nothing is a “fire drill” so being sure you are clear on the true priorities.

With adequate notice and collaboration, work with the PMO to create an automated dashboard to broadcast progress amongst the local teams. In the office, this can be implemented using your agile tools. Please, not a gross wall of Post-it notes! Additionally, a dedicated dashboard can be available on a Teams channel for constant reference by remote workers and business stakeholders. Does anyone have any sample images or links of a Teams dashboard that they would be willing to share? Also, plan to celebrate these achievements. Virtual parties and virtual awards ceremonies are a good investment in team building and morale. Finally, dig in with the team. Be present and lead by example.

From a project manager's perspective. My first approach is identifying the root cause(s). Here are questions to ponder: 1) Are tasks being assigned to the wrong resources? 2) Are the resources capable of delivering what they are being asked? 3) What is the workflow, and where are the bottlenecks? 4) Did the team ever deliver on time? If so, what worked back then, or how come? 5) Is the goal clear and the target set early enough for timely delivery? After getting these questions and many more answered, I'll work to reorganize the team, resources, or whatever needs to be changed to ensure on-time deliveries and limit missed deadlines. Another tactic is to limit noise and keep them focused on their core strengths.

Drawing from my experience managing marketing teams: 1. Identify Real Issues - First, understand why deadlines were missed. Is it unrealistic targets or procrastination? I don't tolerate slackers as they drag down top performers. 2. Reset SMART Goals Together - If deadlines were unrealistic, involve the entire team in setting new targets. This creates buy-in and realistic expectations. 3. Create Milestone Celebrations - Break big goals into smaller wins. For each milestone achieved, immediately recognise the team's effort. This could be as simple as a shout-out in team meetings or a virtual celebration for remote teams. The key is balancing accountability with achievable targets.

1️⃣ Reassess Workflows: Identify inefficiencies and adjust processes collaboratively. 2️⃣ Break Down Goals: Simplify large tasks into smaller, manageable milestones. 3️⃣ Encourage Accountability: Empower team members to own their roles and contributions. 4️⃣ Celebrate Wins: Acknowledge progress to keep morale high and momentum strong.

When my team struggles with missed deadlines, I take these steps to refocus on group goals: 1️⃣ Identify Roadblocks: I work to uncover the reasons behind missed deadlines and address them effectively. 2️⃣ Set Clear Priorities: I define goals and break them into manageable tasks with realistic timelines. 3️⃣ Foster Accountability: I encourage ownership while promoting a culture of support and collaboration. 4️⃣ Celebrate Milestones: I recognise and celebrate small wins to keep morale high and maintain momentum. By leading with clarity and focus, I help my team turn challenges into achievements.