The kickoff meeting went great. Everyone smiled, nodded, and maybe even high-fived (virtually or otherwise). The goal? Crystal clear. The deadline? Reasonable.
And then… something shifts. It’s subtle at first. A little confusion here, a missed update there. And suddenly, your project isn’t cruising—it’s swerving.
If you’ve ever had that gut feeling that your project might be heading into the danger zone, you’re probably right. But don’t panic. Projects don’t derail overnight—it’s usually a slow drift. And the earlier you catch the signs, the better chance you have of pulling it back on track.
Let’s break down five red flags your project might be headed for trouble—and how to fix it before everything crashes and burns.
Red Flag #1: Everyone’s confused… but too polite to admit it.
There’s talk of deliverables. Someone mentions “Phase 2,” and you can see the light in your team’s eyes dim just a little.
People are nodding, smiling, scribbling notes.But no one’s asking questions.
And that silence? It’s not confidence. It’s confusion hiding under courtesy.
What’s really happening:
The goals aren’t clear. The tasks aren’t clear. The roles definitely aren’t clear. But no one wants to be the person who admits they’re lost.
How to fix it:
Drop a clarity bomb. Literally hit pause and say, “Hey, let’s make sure we’re all aligned.”
Create a one-pager with goals, deliverables, roles, and deadlines. Host a quick sync to walk through it. Give people permission to ask “obvious” questions. It’s not hand-holding—it’s building a stable foundation.
Red Flag #2: “Wait, what deadline?”
This one usually hits during a casual check-in.
Someone asks, “Hey, when’s this supposed to launch again?”
And you freeze. Because it turns out the deadline was two weeks ago… and nobody noticed.
What’s really happening:
Either the deadline wasn’t clearly communicated, or it was communicated once and then forgotten in a sea of Slack messages and Google Docs.
How to fix it:
Get those deadlines out of your head and onto a calendar—everyone’s calendar. Make it visual. Make it loud. Make it impossible to ignore.
And if a deadline slips, don’t brush it off. Reset expectations and adjust timelines publicly so the whole team stays in the loop.
Red Flag #3: Scope creep that’s basically a Marvel villain now.
Scope creep usually starts with a sentence like, “Hey, while we’re at it…” Or “Wouldn’t it be cool if we also…”
And before you know it, your tidy little project has sprouted three new heads and a side quest.
What’s really happening:
No one’s guarding the boundaries. Maybe the project never had clearly defined limits in the first place. Or maybe everyone’s just being “helpful” and adding more and more… and more.
How to fix it:
Say it with us: New ideas go in the parking lot.
Create a backlog for cool, maybe-later things. Be transparent about what’s in-scope and what’s not.
And when things do need to shift, adjust timelines and resources accordingly. (Magically fitting more in with the same people and time? That’s not how math—or humans—work.)
Red Flag #4: You’re talking around problems, not about them.
There’s tension in the air. You feel it. Everyone feels it.
But instead of naming it, you’re using words like “interesting challenge” or “learning opportunity.”
Which is polite-speak for: something’s broken, but we’re avoiding eye contact with it.
What’s really happening:
The team is scared of conflict. Or maybe they’ve raised concerns before and felt ignored. So now they’re treading water and waiting for someone—anyone—to take the lead.
How to fix it:
Create a space where it’s okay to name what’s not working.
Start a retro. Ask, “What’s one thing that’s slowing us down?”
Lead with vulnerability and model that honesty is safe here.
If your team trusts that issues will actually be addressed, they’ll speak up way sooner—and that’s how you keep small problems from snowballing.
Red Flag #5: No one’s steering the ship.
This one’s sneaky. On the surface, everything looks fine. Tasks are getting done. Meetings are happening. But… somehow… progress is stalling.
Why? Because no one’s really owning the process. Everyone’s busy doing, but no one’s leading.
What’s really happening:
You don’t have a clear project owner. Or the person technically leading the project is already overloaded and can’t give it the attention it needs. So it’s running on autopilot.
How to fix it:
You need someone to take the wheel. That might mean hiring a project manager. Or at least assigning a dedicated point person whose job is to move things forward, clear roadblocks, and herd the metaphorical cats.
Not sure who that should be? This is where our team at Partnered Management Group comes in. We’ve seen all the messes and know how to clean them up—fast.
Why Does Your PM Spot Red Flags Before You Do?
Because this isn’t their first project rodeo. They’ve walked into late-stage chaos and quietly unraveled it like a tangled ball of yarn. They’ve watched well-intentioned teams spiral from scope creep, deadline drift, and unclear ownership.
And the good ones? They don’t just fix it. They prevent it.
TL;DR: Don’t wait for the crash.
Projects don’t derail all at once. It’s the small signs that add up.
If you spot:
- Confused faces in meetings
- Vanishing deadlines
- Ever-expanding scope
- Silent frustrations
- No clear leadership
Then it’s time to step in.
And if you’re not sure how? That’s exactly what we’re here for.
Let’s get your project back on track—before it goes totally off the rails.