How can you handle unexpected delays when working towards a deadline?

Pinpoint the cause of the delay. Was it a technical issue, a communication gap, a resource shortage, or something else? Understanding the root cause helps you determine the best course of action.

Don't bury your head in the sand. Inform your stakeholders promptly and transparently about the delay. Explain the situation, the anticipated impact, and the steps you're taking to resolve it. Open communication fosters trust and collaboration.

A good rule of thumb is to communicate that there will be a delay the moment you realise there will be a delay. Do not wait for the last moment. While you think you can diffuse the tension for yourself trying to keep that information, the receiver will find themself in a stressful place.

Don't be afraid to ask for help. Communicate your challenges to colleagues, mentors, or even stakeholders. Brainstorm solutions together and leverage additional resources if needed. Collaboration can turn obstacles into opportunities.

In my experience when a team is facing burnout they tend to make more mistakes and be less patient. If the schedule permits sometimes we’ve added a full weekend off for the team just so they can regroup or catch their breath.

Don't rush to revise deadlines that are simply unrealistic. Be honest about the time needed to deliver quality work. Negotiate revised deadlines, if necessary, with clear communication and rationale. Setting achievable deadlines ensures both quality and project success.

Reflect on what went wrong and identify areas for improvement. Did communication breakdowns contribute to the delay? Could better resource allocation have mitigated the impact? Use this as a learning opportunity to prevent similar delays in the future.

I don’t see anything about risk management. Was the delay identified in the risk register and if not why was this risk missed or perhaps not rated properly

Take deep breaths and try to remain clam. Delays can be tough and stressful. But what you need to realise is that the more you panic, the more time and effort you are stealing from the project. Instead, take full responsibility and do your part in helping fix the situations.