You are the CEO of a large company. You have a very important deadline coming up the day after a company-recognized holiday for a large project that is not yet complete.
You have a small team of five people that have been working hard on this project for weeks. Initially, you gave each member on the team several days off over the holidays because you anticipated that the project would be completed by then. However, the project is taking longer than expected. It is important to note that the delay in the project’s completion is no one’s fault, and everyone has been working hard.
Several members on the team have shared with you their holiday plans and you know that everyone on the team is excited for their promised time off.
You cannot complete the project on your own by the deadline and the client is not willing to budge on the due date.
What do you do? You are the CEO of a large company. You have a very important deadline coming up the day after a company-recognized holiday for a large project that is not yet complete.
You have a small team of five people that have been working hard on this project for weeks. Initially, you gave each member on the team several days off over the holidays because you anticipated that the project would be completed by then. However, the project is taking longer than expected. It is important to note that the delay in the project’s completion is no one’s fault, and everyone has been working hard.
Several members on the team have shared with you their holiday plans and you know that everyone on the team is excited for their promised time off.
You cannot complete the project on your own by the deadline and the client is not willing to budge on the due date.
What do you do?
As the CEO of a large company, faced with this situation, I would consider the following actions:
1. Evaluate the options: Assess the potential solutions and their consequences. This may involve analyzing the feasibility of completing the project with the available team, hiring additional employees to assist, or exploring alternatives such as delegating tasks to another team within the company.
2. Communicate with the team: Have an open and honest discussion with the team about the situation and the importance of meeting the client's deadline. Acknowledge their dedication and the effort they have put into the project. Explain the urgency and the potential impact on the company if the deadline is not met.
3. Request their assistance: Appeal to the team's commitment and seek their understanding. Ask if anyone is willing to adjust their holiday plans or make sacrifices to help complete the project in time. Offer incentives or alternatives to compensate for their flexibility and dedication, such as additional time off once the project is finished or a bonus.
4. Consider external support: If the team is unable or unwilling to adjust their plans, explore the possibility of hiring external contractors or freelancers to support the team temporarily. These additional resources can help complete the project within the deadline. It is crucial to ensure that these external resources understand the project's goals and requirements.
5. Reallocate resources: Assess if there is any non-essential work or tasks that can be temporarily put on hold or delegated to others within the company. This will allow the team to focus solely on completing the project by the deadline. Communicate with other departments or teams to reallocate resources accordingly.
6. Prioritize and streamline: Work closely with the team to prioritize tasks and eliminate any unnecessary or redundant work. Streamline processes and focus on essential components to expedite progress while maintaining quality standards. Regularly monitor and review progress to identify any bottlenecks or issues that may arise.
7. Support the team: Throughout this challenging period, ensure that the team feels supported and motivated. Provide any necessary resources, guidance, or assistance they may require to meet the deadline. Express gratitude for their efforts and keep them updated on the importance of their work and the impact it has on the company.
In summary, when faced with an important deadline and a team that had initially planned to take time off, I would evaluate all possible solutions, communicate with the team, explore external support, and reallocate resources as necessary to complete the project on time.