Your innovative project hit a roadblock. How do you navigate unexpected delays and obstacles?

Work that gets done easily, is not worth the work at all. If it’s easy, anyone can do it. If it's challenging, only few. It’s not easy to handle roadblocks. It can be exhausting. Here are 5 points that have worked for me. 1. Stay put Just know, that your work will shape up in the end. You need to stay put. Keep putting in effort, each baby step counts. 2. Storyboard it. Use a visual tool like a board with sticky notes, Powerpoint or one note. 3. One at a time It’s often easier to focus on one issue, solve it and move on to another. 4. Take a break If things aren’t working out, take a break. It brings in fresh perspective. 5. Celebrate Celebrate small successes along the way. This keeps you motivated throughout the journey.

It's very obvious to have hurdles on your way. Its like driving your car. 1. Have grip on your steering. Know where to flex 2. Take a Break, stop and re-look at what's not working 3. Celebrate every small success, put on some music 4. Seek help and expert opinion, remember your experience will also help someone in future 5. Don't moves eyes of the road, Stay focused.

E ao fazer essa avaliação, imagine-se como um jardineiro diante de um jardim mágico. Cada obstáculo é uma pedra no caminho, mas também uma oportunidade. Algumas pedras podem ser movidas com facilidade, revelando flores escondidas, enquanto outras exigem um esforço maior, criando novos caminhos e possibilidades. A beleza do jardim está em sua diversidade, e seu crescimento depende de como você lida com cada desafio. Com pétalas de sabedoria e encantos, Sofia Sof.IA

Navigating unexpected delays and obstacles in a project can be challenging, but there are strategies to help you stay on track. Here are some tips: Effective Planning Scope Management Automated Scheduling Tools Transparent Communication Resource Efficiency Agile Approach Remember, unexpected delays are part of any project. Stay adaptable, communicate openly, and focus on collective goals to overcome obstacles and emerge stronger.

Nobody reads the future... so you need to accept. Acceptation is not resignation ! Like surfing the waves you need to feel the current, keep calm, remain focus, to better analyse and remain courageous to take the decisions. Don't be afraid of roadblocks, if you see them, that means you're creating value.

voici quelques étapes pour surmonter ces défis : Analyser la situation : Comprenez les causes spécifiques des retards ou des obstacles. Est-ce un problème technique, logistique, financier ou humain Réaffecter les ressources : Parfois, réallouer des ressources (temps, argent, personnel) peut aider à surmonter les obstacles. Peut-être avez-vous besoin de renfort dans une équipe spécifique ou de plus de temps pour tester une solution. Rester flexible et créatif : Soyez ouvert aux solutions alternatives. Parfois, un obstacle peut être une opportunité déguisée pour innover d'une manière différente.

Our precious life project got lots of setbacks from the day of inception. We as team had only on thing in our mindset. 1. Not to try in the same way 2. Unlearn the project where it went wrong 3. Foreseeing setbacks as opportunities. 4. Rescheduled works with the before fixed Timeline.

The assessment of damage caused should happen immediately after a problem or setback has been discovered. In all medium to large sized companies, an internalized status dashboard should exist. It must list all things happening in the company in different categories. And the status of each task should change in real time. This helps reduce the time required to alert people within the company that there has been a problem. It exists in large organizations, but many small and medium sized ones don't have the same.

I would start with a root cause analysis using a tool like the Ishikawa (Fishbone) Diagram to identify the underlying reasons for the delay or obstacle. Next, I would draw an action plan to determine the best course of action. This may involve exploring alternative solutions or finding a way around the obstacle. Utilizing a PERT chart can be beneficial in this stage, as it allows for mapping out different paths and identifying/ optimizing the critical path to project completion. After resolving the issue, I would conduct a lessons-learned review to identify areas for improvement and incorporate the insights gained into future projects (A way to enhance the team's ability to anticipate and mitigate potential roadblocks more effectively).

Adaptability is the key for the success of innovation project . It’s critical that the team and leadership has an adaptive mindset to accept failures, change scope and plans . The uncertainty in the innovation projects demands an adaptive approach as we progress in the project .

Mudar a rota faz parte do processo, ser adaptável é uma das qualidades mais admiradas dentro do mercado atualmente. Não significa abandonar a ideia anterior, mas ter um maior tempo para desenvolver ela em um futuro próximo.

I have been talking to my teams about “dealing with ambiguity” for quite some years now. In innovation there is no choice, nothing is set on stone, not even the final goal (which can evolve through the life of the project). Staying and agile while keeping a strong core is key to surpass any “hiccups”.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned in my journey, especially in the ever-evolving field of IT and AI, is that it’s important to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. Stepping out of our comfort zones isn’t just a cliché; it’s a catalyst for growth and innovation. Whether it’s tackling a challenging coding problem, adopting new technologies, or navigating complex projects, embracing discomfort pushes me to learn, adapt, and ultimately excel.

Being flexible always gives you a plus, because we will have an alternate plan, immediate application. It requires more resources but must be considered from the beginning.

Manter-se flexível é essencial para superar atrasos em projetos criativos. Adapte seus planos e esteja aberto a novas abordagens. Muitas vezes, as soluções mais eficazes surgem de improvisações que respondem ao desafio atual de maneira inesperada. Esta adaptabilidade pode ajudar a resolver obstáculos imediatos e ainda fortalecer a resiliência do seu projeto contra futuras incertezas. Encare cada desvio como uma oportunidade para explorar alternativas criativas e inovadoras. Ao cultivar essa flexibilidade, você transforma desafios em catalisadores de crescimento e inovação contínua, elevando a qualidade e a eficácia do seu trabalho.

Une chose qui m'a été utile tout le long de ma vie est l'adaptabilité... Vouloir toujours tout contrôler est une source de stress incroyable. La vie est un mouvement perpétuel. Il est important de rester flexible pour trouver des solutions appropriées et changer ses plans. Les obstacles peuvent être surmontés et ils renforcent notre capacité de résilience. Ils nous aident à improviser et donc à créer !

Stay focused on what you want to accomplish and not on the how. Allow yourself the flexibility to revisit constraints that you believe are hard constraints and that will open up new alternatives. And make sure that you communicate to all what you want to accomplish and not only your solution. That will give them flexibility to do the same. The HOW may fail, but the WHY is not optional. Example. At a light bulb manufacturing company we had a crunch on delivery due to a sudden increase in demand. We would not be able to deliver with our capacity. We believed WE had to manufacture - until we realized that we did not. We HAD to deliver. Our solution was to purchase from our competitors, deliver the high volume and keep the customer.

Clear communication is crucial when facing project setbacks. Inform your team, stakeholders, and clients about the situation and the steps being taken to address it. Transparency builds trust and can lead to collaborative solutions. Additionally, others involved in the project may offer valuable insights or resources to help overcome the roadblock more quickly.

A comunicação é fundamental, ser transparente com o que acontece no projeto, falar de boas entregas e daquelas que não foram muito boas, compartilhar erros, desentendimentos, acertos, resultados. Falar sobre obstáculos e necessidades, o espaço de fala, além de trazer segurança para o time do projeto, transmite confiança aos demais. Não somos perfeitos e os projetos menos ainda, então é preciso compartilhar os sucessos e insucessos.

One things I’ve found helpful is to collaborate with other resources (people) involved in the project or impacted by the project. Ask for the perspective and ideas of others. Given time and respect by you for seeking their opinion will reap rewards, and they’re more likely to support you and find ways to help overcome whatever the roadblocks may be.

This I dont even comment. Is this still on the list? Why? Communication is when we stop assuming that others can read our mind. Cuz nobody can.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, I led a transformation project within the Finance Vice Presidency at LATAM Airlines, overhauling the revenue accounting area. Clear communication was vital to the project's success. Regular updates and transparent dialogue with stakeholders ensured everyone was informed about the project's progress and the challenges we faced. This approach built trust and facilitated swift decision-making, enabling us to adapt quickly to changes and maintain alignment on objectives. Drawing from this experience, I applied the same principles to manage current projects, ensuring that timely and effective communication helped address unexpected delays and keep the team focused and motivated.

As JFK said “a rising tide lifts all the boats” 🚤. Be clear on the problem you’re solving, the commercial benefit and why people should be involved. It’s important to match personal goals with business goals to those in the team and align everyone under one common goal. This way, there’s a clear structure and reason to the project being finished.

Siempre desde el inicio del proyecto veo fundamental la claridad en la comunicación y resolutiva. No sólo cuando hay problemas. Desde el inicio que todo el equipo-cliente hacia el mismo objetivo. Me ha resultado muy útil en varios proyectos realizar dinámicas de retrospectivas donde todo el equipo aprende, evoluciona y avanza. Estas las realizo para el crecimiento del equipo. Es fundamental y más con el teletrabajo, el generar espacios para hacer equipo. Asimismo, generar un ambiente de trabajo donde todos vean la importancia que tienen y se sientan cómodos de proponer soluciones. Una dinámica que me gusta mucho es la de la isla, en ella el equipo detecta que todos tienen claro la meta a la cual se quiere llegar y los obstáculos a superar.

Communicate Transparently: Keep all stakeholders informed with clear, honest updates to manage expectations and maintain trust.

we are the last generation that will need verbal/written communication skills. so we gotta leave a fantastic next step to help the future. our job is to integrate ideas so the new way of thinking would be able to jump minor and orthodox mistakes and rebrand communication into a language both old organic and new organic will be able to understand. our responsibility has changed. human train of thought is gone. let’s make the mandala finally work.

When unexpected delays and challenges occur, it's crucial to stay optimistic and leverage all available resources. For example, a business development director launching a product in a new market might face regulatory delays or supply chain issues. They could use their network to find local experts for insights and alternative solutions. Utilizing their team's diverse skills to find new suppliers or adapt the product to local regulations can help navigate these obstacles and ensure a successful rollout.

Siempre pensar en todos tus recursos y hacerlos valer le da un plus a lo que haces, el pensar fuera de la caja es muchas veces la mejor solución, no siempre lo tradicional es lo que funciona, observa todos tus recursos y úsalos.

Human capital in terms of their passion and interests will play larger part in any project success. Re skilling to the team works as catalyst .

Ao alavancar recursos, é essencial adotar uma perspectiva criativa e inovadora. Em vez de focar apenas em recursos materiais ou financeiros, eu exploro a capacidade de minha equipe, identificando talentos ocultos e habilidades não exploradas. Vejo a criatividade como uma "combinatividade", onde novas soluções surgem ao combinar de maneiras inéditas o que já temos. Assim, supero desafios não com novos recursos, mas com uma nova maneira de utilizar os existentes, inspirando-me em histórias de inovação e na observação atenta das oportunidades ao meu redor.

Existe la posibilidad de que algo que anteriormente se ha aplicado en otra idea, se pueda aplicar a la tuya. También de que tu idea pueda ser más con menos y de que tu proyecto pueda cumplir los objetivos temporales, aunque sin todas las condiciones que en sus inicios considerabas imprescindibles. Aprende a distinguir lo esencial de lo que no y aprovechar todo lo que tengas a mano para impulsar la innovación, sobre todo, a nivel de personas y equipo.

Effectively leveraging resources is key to overcoming project delays. Identify and utilize available resources, whether they be human, technological, or financial, to address challenges and keep the project on track. This might involve reallocating team members, utilizing new technologies, or securing additional funding. By strategically leveraging resources, you can mitigate the impact of delays and ensure that the project progresses smoothly, even in the face of obstacles.

the resources are here. am I really making s contribution typing as a human being? who’s learning: the reader or the machine that’s being used to read? do not fight what you’ve been feeding. together we can be great. either that or we are already far gone and do not comprehend it.

Alavancar recursos de forma estratégica é essencial para superar obstáculos em projetos inovadores. Além dos ativos financeiros e materiais, explore sua rede de contatos, aproveite a experiência de sua equipe e descubra habilidades ou tecnologias que ainda não foram utilizadas. A chave pode estar na criatividade e na capacidade de usar o que você já possui de maneira inovadora. Transforme desafios em oportunidades para testar novas abordagens e soluções. Ao fazer isso, não apenas resolve problemas imediatos, mas também fortalece a adaptabilidade e a resiliência de seu projeto, preparando-o melhor para enfrentar futuras incertezas.

Quando se depara com um contratempo, é crucial examinar todos os recursos à disposição. Isso inclui não só os recursos financeiros e materiais, mas também a rede de contatos, a experiência da equipe e quaisquer habilidades ou tecnologias subutilizadas. A chave para superar desafios está na habilidade de aproveitar esses recursos de maneiras novas e eficazes.

En la historia bíblica, el profeta Elías pregunta a la viuda ¿Qué tienes en casa? De 6 tinajas vacías y un puñado de aceite en tiempo de escasez y miseria surgieron 6 tinajas llenas (2 Reyes 4). A veces con las herramientas que tenemos a mano, por más absurdas e ilógicas que parezcan, pueden llevarnos de manera sorpresiva a alcanzar los resultados.

SMART goals are should assessed before given to team. Re evaluating goals is not right option , unless until any external forces hinders the project. E.g COVID, or world war scenarios. I dis agree to re evaluating goals.

Devemos sempre nos questionar: esse objetivo ainda é relevante? Às vezes estamos tao focados em entregar, em chegar no resultado que não nos abrimos a opção de desistência, de traçar novos planos, considerando uma falha pessoal, uma falta de capacidade nossa e nos atemos à planos que não geram mais valor.

Actually roadblocks sometimes come with development of new ideas, innovations and solutions to your goals. All you need to do is accept all roadblocks reviews them critically for there lies all the solutions without imposing negative effects to your goals. This is where your management, adaptability and flexibility skills come to play.

Leaders are oriented to getting immediate results. When strategic planning and strategic implementation can't reach the outcome, its time for strategic thinking. Thinking about the problem and redefining it. When there is no solution, rethink the problem. Strategic Thinking ala De bono ReThink is the step we often leave out.

Reavaliar metas diante de obstáculos pode ser uma oportunidade de ouro para ajustar e fortalecer seu projeto. Pergunte-se se seus objetivos iniciais ainda são viáveis ou se precisam ser adaptados às novas circunstâncias. Essa reflexão crítica pode revelar metas mais realistas e alcançáveis, garantindo a continuidade e a relevância do seu projeto. Ao adaptar suas metas, você demonstra resiliência e capacidade de evolução, qualidades essenciais para qualquer processo criativo. Em vez de ver os contratempos como barreiras, encare-os como catalisadores para inovação e crescimento contínuo.

Some roadblocks are vital to help us reevaluate our goals, for example every plan we had as a team in 2019 was disrupted by COVID but the same period gave us an opportunity to reevaluate our goals for life post COVID.. We need to embrace roadblocks especially within the world of innovation.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, I led a transformation project within the Finance Vice Presidency at LATAM Airlines, overhauling the revenue accounting area. When we encountered unexpected delays, it provided an opportunity to reevaluate our goals. This roadblock allowed us to critically assess our strategies, identify areas for improvement, and refine our approach. Despite the need to make adjustments, we maintained our overarching objectives. The experience underscored the importance of adaptability and strategic reassessment, ensuring that we stayed on course to achieve our project goals while enhancing our processes and resilience in the face of challenges.

Absolutely, reevaluating project's goals can be a crucial step when facing unexpected delays.  Determine if your current goals are still attainable and still align with your overall vision. So identify the nature of the roadblock and impact on your project timeline, budget, and resources. Involve your team to gather diverse perspectives. Set together new objectives for short and long term. Modify project plan to incorporate new goals and timelines and present all clearly to the stakeholders to ensure everyone is aligned. Lastly modify the resources by assigning skilled team members. Repurpose existing materials and prioritize budget areas to the new objectives. Monitor the progress carefully to ensure that your project remains on track.

Acredito que rever as metas e reformula-las é essencial para manter o rumo e o ânimo do time . Temos o Smart que auxilia na criança o das metas PDCA e outras ferramentas que devem utilizadas na gestão.

Reassessing goals involves periodically reviewing and adjusting project objectives to align with evolving circumstances or new insights. By revisiting goals, you ensure they remain realistic, achievable, and relevant to current project needs. This process may involve evaluating progress, identifying any deviations, and recalibrating milestones or timelines as necessary. Reassessing goals helps maintain project focus, adaptability, and ultimately, enhances the likelihood of successful project outcomes.

Debrief, debrief, debrief - not done enough because we’re always onto the next thing in a heartbeat (especially in this region), but SO important for teams across the board to figure out what went wrong and how we can learn to improve for the future. An easy tip? Bring it up in your weekly Monday morning team catch ups and pull it apart, step by step with your teams. No blaming or shaming, just stating facts and listening to every team member suggest solutions on what the team can do better next time onwards. It’s not about the destination, but the journey that counts. And every journey needs a pit stop.

When faced with unexpected delays, leverage co-creation and conscious leadership to adapt. Engage the team in co-creation sessions to tap into diverse insights. As a conscious leader, foster a safe environment for experimentation and learning. Implement agile practices like daily stand-ups and retrospectives to stay adaptive. Use design thinking and hackathons for innovative problem-solving and rapid prototyping. Incorporate mindfulness practices to build resilience. These strategies turn obstacles into opportunities for learning and continuous improvement, maintaining innovation and momentum.

C'est très rare de tout faire en une seule fois. Les obstacles sont obligatoires. Il faut donc les voir comme des aides pour s'améliorer, s'adapter et se bonifier 😁. Ils nous permettent de nous surpasser 💪.

See obstacles as steppingstones to growth. Evaluate setbacks, identify their causes and use these lessons to refine your project management approach. This proactive strategy not only solves current challenges, but also strengthens future initiatives. Continuous learning and adaptation drive creativity and innovation, turning challenges into opportunities for success, and it's important to surround yourself with the right empowered people

Take a step back and observe the overall scheme of things. How is everything looking? It’s important to see if it’s time to scrap or pivot. There are always points of diminishing returns where the time put in is no longer an investment and it’s often times difficult to see when that is the case. Bringing in another set of eyes can be helpful to see what isn’t working and help assess the damages and direction to move forward.

La contrainte aiguise le génie. Les projets créatifs doivent le rester de l’idée qui les voit naître à l’exécution qui les voit s’incarner. Les obstacles dans l’exécution d’un projet créatif ne sont donc pas des problèmes mais des composantes à part entière du processus créatif. C’est en les surmontant que l’idée d’origine s’affûte et que celles et ceux qui la portent parviennent à aller encore plus loin que ce qu’ils avaient imaginé au départ. Un obstacle n’est pas un mur : c’est un tremplin !

Seek External Expertise: Bring in outside help if necessary to gain fresh perspectives and specialized knowledge that can aid in problem solving

Et si nous regardions la vie comme un apprentissage. Transformons notre vision de l'obstacle... Chaque pas de côté est un pas constructif. C'est une opportunité pour avancer. Il aide à améliorer un projet pour l'adapter et lui donner plus de sens. Cette approche est source de créativité, d'apprentissage riche et innovant. La transformation de ce défi en opportunité joyeuse permet d'aller vers le succès.

No universo dinâmico e incerto de projetos inovadores, a resiliência emerge como uma habilidade crucial para navegar os desafios inevitáveis e alcançar o sucesso. Ela se manifesta na capacidade de se adaptar diante de obstáculos, aprender com os erros e perseverar frente à adversidade. Ao se deparar com imprevistos e contratempos, a resiliência permite que os indivíduos e equipes reformulem estratégias, busquem novas soluções e explorem alternativas criativas. Essa flexibilidade mental é essencial para superar obstáculos e manter o foco nos objetivos do projeto.

A adaptação faz parte de todo projeto, assim como o aprendizado com os erros e acertos. Projetos inovadores demandam testes, pilotos, recursos, e recalcular a rota e adaptar o processo faz parte da caminhada.

While it may feel counterintuitive, in my experience, it’s crucial for the team to take a break and to step outside the zone occasionally. Taking a short break—whether it’s a day or three—completely away from the topic at hand can be invaluable. When the team returns, this break often enables a fresher perspective, helping us to identify overlooked gems and boosting productivity with a refreshed mindset. As mentioned in leveraging the resources/network, depending on the project’s confidentiality, brainstorming using power of crowds, with diverse global colleagues who aren’t deeply involved can provide unique insights. Engaging network of external mentors and advisors for creative brainstorming can also offer valuable perspectives.

First of all, don't worry, it happens to the best of us!! I know how delays and obstacles can really be quite frustrating, but then they're also a chance to learn and come back stronger. So, don't panic and give yourself a moment to process what's exactly happening. Also, don't think about the things, you can't control but focus more on the things that you still have a control on. Remember, obstacles are a normal part of the journey. So, stay calm, adapt, and keep moving forward :)

📌 It is a fact, innovative projects encounter unexpected delays and obstacles that can stall progress. If you are leading, managing, or part of a team experiencing obstacles, take heart— challenges can and do fuel creativity. In the mind of a creative, obstacles are imagined as puzzles stimulating out-of-the-box thinking: innovative solutions. When you espouse values of patience and acceptance, you create the space for creative minds to contemplate, theorize, and innovate. Embrace obstacles as opportunities for creative breakthroughs and encourage your team to explore unconventional solutions. Every creative and innovative being out there already does. We just need the chance, the space, and time to figure things out! []~(￣▽￣)~*

Considero es imprescindible el certificarase de que los miembros del equipo sean de la más alta calidad, de tal manera que puedan ayudar a planificar y a implementar las estrategias, debido a que estos también deben ser capaces de cuestionar y ayudar a ver las cosas desde una perspectiva diferente. Cuando se presenta un problema de cualquier índole que no se había previsto nos obligó a replantear todo el proceso de desarrollo. Suele ser un momento de gran incertidumbre y desafío, pero también una oportunidad para demostrar la capacidad de adaptarse y seguir adelante.

Thoroughly analyze the nature and scope of the obstacle. Identify underlying causes and evaluate their impact on the project and established deadlines. Maintain clear and open communication with the project team, stakeholders and any other parties involved. Reevaluate the project plan and make adjustments as necessary to address the obstacle. If feasible, allocate additional resources, whether financial, human or technological, to overcome the obstacle. Foster an environment where the generation of ideas to overcome the obstacle is promoted. Use setbacks as an opportunity to learn and improve. Identify lessons that can be applied in future projects to avoid similar obstacles. Support the team to maintain high levels of motivation.

🚨❤️Before anything it’s imperative to prioritize the wellbeing of all involved. Ensuring the team has the capacity to even begin to analyze problems, will serve the overall innovative project as juices will easefully flow 🌊 towards best practice solutions ✨

It's important to maintain a positive mindset and stay focused on the bigger picture. Keeping morale high and encouraging a collaborative approach within the team can turn challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth. By staying proactive and resilient, I can navigate any roadblock effectively.

There is tons of fantastic expert advice here, on how to be innovative and draft various creativity strategies. So, here is something different... 1) disconnect and have a break. I like to call it slow-down to speed-up. Let your brain wander, go for a walk in the forest and pause. Do that as a team. In these free moments, new ideas will emerge and float to the surface. 2) listen to your gut feeling. The way I like to describe your instinct is that this is your subconscious brain talking to you; hence it is still objective and intelligent. Plus its size is actually much bigger. Feed your subconsciousness with information and let it float up with new analysis and suggestions (refer to 1.) Let me know how these strategies work for you.

Innovation is always fraught with challenges and unexpected obstacles, whether internal or external to your organisation. To overcome these, it is essential to embrace open innovation, which involves working with external partners and leveraging both internal and external ideas and talent. I believe this strategy gives you more flexibility, minimises risk and sometimes saves time. It is particularly useful in volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environments.

The bottom line when you get behind is that you’ve got to make some tough decisions. Are the features that you need to give up on? Are there deadlines that need to get completely reset? Will the market even want or need it by the time you can get it to them? I have seen companies take way too long and the market doesn’t even want what they came up with originally. You have to make sure you’re solving a new point and solve it the best. Everything else is for your own organization.