3 Things You’re Doing That Derail Your Project Timelines
I hear it all the time:
"My client keeps asking for more!" "My client is slow to respond!" "My client is the reason this project is dragging on forever!"
And hey, I get it.
Clients can be a lot.
But when you blame them entirely for your project delays, you literally give all your power away.
When you run your own business, it really is a disservice to yourself when you totally overlook the part you play...
… which, I hate to say, isn’t insignificant.
The truth is your clients may have unideal tendencies, but that doesn’t mean they have power over your entire project and get to decide how things go.
In fact, you have a lot more control over the situation than you even realize.
So today I wanted to cover this topic, because...
👉 I see your project getting derailed
👉 I see you blaming your client for it
👉 And I see all the areas where YOU could have prevented it from happening
3 Things You’re Doing to Derail Your Projects
1. You’re Not Qualifying Clients Properly
Some clients are dream clients.
They make decisions quickly and confidently.
They respond to you promptly.
They don’t push any boundaries and don’t even need excessive boundary explanation.
Others?
Well… not so much.
If you’re constantly dealing with indecisive, unrealistic, or unprepared clients, the problem isn’t them—it’s that they mayyybe shouldn’t have been your clients in the first place.
Q: “But Jeannie, howwww do I find this out?!”
A: Through proper qualification before they sign on.
You have MANY opportunities in your client process to…
✔️ Set clear expectations ✔️ Make sure their budget aligns with their vision ✔️ Communicate your process
But when you overlook those opportunities, or even worse, are too afraid to seize those opportunities, you set yourself up for endless delays before a project even begins.
My recommendation?
Ask better, more thoughtful questions in your discovery call.
And don’t be afraid to decline them if it’s not a great prospect.
>>> here’s a script for how to do this!
2. Your Follow-Ups Are Weak
Just last week one of my private clients asked me for advice on why her nice, seemingly excited client totally disappears after every conversation… just to reappear a month later with excited responses.
After reviewing a couple email exchanges, I actually saw zero red flags.
I just saw opportunities for my client to have stronger follow ups.
If you’re not sending consistent follow up emails with clear deadlines, it’s no surprise things are stalling.
👉 Your clients are busy.
👉 Your clients are often also overwhelmed with their own lives (especially those with multiple children.)
👉 And then some of your clients are also naturally indecisive.
You can fully expect these people to derail your timelines... if you let them!
To gain control, I encourage you to…
✔️ Have proactive check-ins (not just when there’s a problem) ✔️ Set clear deadlines—with accountability (yep that means following up!) ✔️ Have organized and consistent communication (because what you put out, you’ll get back. If your communication is inconsistent or indirect, you’re going to get the saaaame thing back from your clients.)
I’m telling you, a little structure goes a long way.
You’ll be surprised how quickly your clients get back to you and make decisions with a little urgency behind them.
3. You’re Letting Scope Creep In
Scope creep is not only a timekiller, it’s a timeline killer.
Your clients are going to ask for a little opinion here, a few more revisions there, and a last minute swap YET AGAIN.
The easiest way to let your projects spiral out of control is to say “yes” to all those extra requests.
These “quick changes” add up.
And each one, if the client really really wants it to happen, means an adjustment in the timeline, and likely the fee.
The fix?
✔️ A clear scope and estimate from the beginning.
✔️ Holding boundaries.
✔️ And the confidence to say, “I’d love to add that— but that would increase the timeline and the fee. Is that something you want?”
Boom.
Wrapping Up
There are plenty of delays that are inevitable.
But there are also plenty that aren’t.
And my goal is to help you notice and take hold of every single opportunity you have to make your process more efficient, more profitable, and more enjoyable for everyone.
If you want this too, I invite you to learn more about my signature group coaching program Client Success Academy.
Enrollment is closed at the moment, but the private waitlist for Spring is building (tap here to be on it!).
Hope this one was helpful for you, {{ subscriber.first_name }}.
See you next week!
Jeannie
