Career · FORTUNE
Fortune #37
Mixed — reflect carefully
When a delay becomes likely, naming the risk, cause, and realistic new date gives others room to adjust.
QUOTE CARD
A quote for you
“อย่ารอผู้นำ จงลงมือทำด้วยตนเอง จากคนสู่คน”
— แม่ชีเทเรซา
แม่ชีคาทอลิกและมิชชันนารี ผู้ทำงานช่วยเหลือผู้ยากไร้ในอินเดีย
- Person
- Mother Teresa
- Source work
- Mary Alice Warner, Dayna Beilenson (1987) Women of faith and spirit: their words & thoughts, p. 42
- Source text
- Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person.
STORY & REFLECTION
A delay announced before the deadline
Guidance-based illustration · A delay announced before the deadline
Illustrative scene: On Wednesday, an employee learns a supplier will be late. Hoping Friday will still work, they say nothing to the delivery team.
By Thursday, few options remain. They share what is known and a realistic estimate immediately, allowing dispatch to contact recipients and change the route before trucks leave.
Atlassian recommends written updates that show progress, next steps, and decisions needed. They can keep a team aligned without adding a meeting for every status change.
Early bad news may disappoint. Late bad news also removes other people's options.
Reflection
Early notice of delay creates options.
A small action today
Report the risk with a realistic new date.
A question to reflect on
Who should know today that the original date may not hold?