How do you give feedback to a creator who misses deadlines?

1 Why feedback matters

Feedback is essential for any creative project, especially when you have to coordinate with others. Feedback helps you align your expectations, communicate your needs, and improve your performance. Giving feedback to a creator who misses deadlines is not only about holding them accountable, but also about helping them grow and learn from their mistakes.

2 How to prepare feedback

Before you give feedback to a creator who misses deadlines, you need to prepare yourself and your message. First, you need to be clear about the impact of their actions on the project and the team. How did their missed deadline affect the quality, scope, or budget of the work? How did it affect your reputation, trust, or satisfaction? Second, you need to be specific about what you want them to change and why. What are the standards, expectations, or goals that they need to meet? What are the benefits of meeting them for themselves and others? Third, you need to be constructive and supportive. How can you help them overcome their challenges, improve their skills, or find better solutions?

3 When to give feedback

Timing is crucial when you give feedback to a creator who misses deadlines. You don't want to wait too long and let the problem escalate, but you also don't want to rush and give feedback when emotions are high or when you don't have enough information. The best time to give feedback is as soon as possible after the missed deadline, but only when you and the creator are calm, focused, and ready to listen. You also want to choose a suitable channel and setting for the feedback. Depending on the nature and severity of the issue, you may want to give feedback in person, by phone, or by email. You also want to make sure that you have privacy, attention, and respect from both sides.

5 How to follow up feedback

Giving feedback to a creator who misses deadlines is an ongoing process, requiring you to follow up and monitor their progress. To do this effectively, you should set a deadline and a method for checking in on the solution and action plan. Provide regular feedback on their performance, both positive and negative, as well as any additional resources, guidance, or assistance. Celebrate their achievements and milestones, and review the feedback process and its outcomes to learn from the experience.

6 How to avoid feedback pitfalls

Giving feedback to a creator who misses deadlines can be a difficult but rewarding task if done correctly. It is important to be mindful of common pitfalls when providing feedback, such as being angry, frustrated, or biased; giving vague, general, or irrelevant feedback; being too harsh, negative, or personal; giving feedback too late, too frequently, or inconsistently; not making it actionable, realistic, or measurable; and not aligning it with the project goals, the creator's goals, or the feedback culture. By avoiding these pitfalls, you can give feedback in a respectful, helpful, and productive manner.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?