“Can you just… deliver more?”
Picture this:
The project is in flight. You’re the project leader, manager or director with the responsibility to deliver — suddenly the requirements change. The goalposts move.
But here’s the catch: timing, quality, cost and resources stay locked.
“Can you just… deliver more?”
Sound familiar? So now what do you do?
Often, our only perceived response is to try and absorb the change — to figure it out. It can work… the first time, maybe the second, but the third time? The cracks start to show, and sadly this is seen within the low rates of successfully delivered projects frequently quoted.
Why does this happen?
Sometimes it’s a client request that’s already been agreed, perhaps it’s internal over-exuberance. But the outcome is the same: the project manager carries the stress and the load.
So, is there another lever? Yes – Risk
Projects are, by their nature, uncertain, existing alongside internal and external forces, meaning that they carry risk.
If you can stay in control of risk, clearly describe its state, know your risk profile you have the power to communicate the risk impact of a change.
Delivering more with the same constraints always means an increase in risk.
Project professionals work hard to stay in control. Use risk as your power tool — not just to manage delivery, but to shape the conversation and stay in control.
How do you handle it when the goalposts move? Do you push back, absorb the change, or escalate the risk?
👇 Share your experience — let’s learn from each other.
The other lever
