Your team member keeps missing project deadlines. How can you address this challenge effectively?

Since proper planning and governance prevent such issues, first, assess where the gap occurred. Review workload distribution, dependencies, and early warning signals. Strengthen governance by setting clear accountability, regular check-ins, and milestone tracking. Use operational excellence to refine processes, ensuring efficiency. Apply Lean principles to eliminate bottlenecks and improve resource utilization. If delays persist, provide coaching, clarify expectations, and implement a performance improvement plan to align the team member with project goals.

When a team member keeps missing deadlines, I focus on finding the root cause rather than just the symptom. Here’s what helps: Have an open conversation – Understand if it’s a workload issue, lack of clarity, or personal challenges. Set clear expectations – Define timelines and priorities upfront to avoid confusion. Break tasks into milestones – Smaller deadlines can make big projects feel more manageable. Offer support & resources – Sometimes, they just need better tools or guidance. Hold them accountable – A balance of encouragement and responsibility goes a long way. Addressing the issue with empathy and structure ensures progress without creating friction.

Identify the root cause, set clear expectations, provide support, and improve time management. Regularly monitor progress, enhance accountability, adjust workload if needed, and implement consequences if necessary. Clear communication and a problem-solving approach ensure better performance.

Have an open chat to understand what’s causing the delays—lack of clarity, workload issues, or something personal. Set clear expectations, break tasks into smaller milestones, and offer support where needed. If it’s a pattern, a mix of accountability and guidance will help. The goal isn’t just meeting deadlines but making sure the team runs smoothly!

It would be prudent to first assess if the missing deadline is one off case or a frequent one. In case it is a routine occurrence, would assess the workload and/or the timeline of set realistic or not. Talking transparently helps understand the underlying issue bothering the team member. A joint strategy to overcome this scenario can be explored. Other teammates' help can be sought to tide over the situation in short term. However, for long term solution, behavioural intervention and proper environment are to be ensured for the desired outcome.

Daily Stand Up Meetings (SUM) are a popular way to start the day, with teams mapping out what they plan to achieve. But one thing that has proven useful is COB Stand Up Meetings. An hour before COB, try implementing another Daily SUM for the team to say what they have done vs what they said in the morning, mentioning any roadblocks they may have come across. Mainly, it helps with identifying efficiency or communication issues. It could also work as a motivational/accountability tool. If I know I haven’t quite finished what I said I would do, and there were no apparent roadblocks, I’ll do my best to get it done on time.

When a team member consistently misses deadlines, I first identify the root cause—whether it's unclear expectations, workload imbalance, or personal challenges. I then set clear goals, establish milestones, and ensure they have the necessary resources or training. Regular check-ins help track progress without micromanaging. If delays persist, I provide constructive feedback and adjust strategies, such as redistributing tasks or refining processes. A supportive yet accountable approach fosters improvement, keeps projects on track, and strengthens team performance.