Feedback arrives three days late, but the original launch date remains on every report. The team absorbs the pressure until someone makes a promise they cannot meet. When client input is late, assess the effect on the remaining work and agree the revised commitment explicitly.
Photo by Content Pixie on Unsplash.
A missed review date does not automatically tell you what the new delivery date should be. The impact depends on the work, available capacity and dependencies. Use the agreed commercial terms where relevant and seek appropriate advice on contractual questions.
Make the dependency visible early
When requesting feedback, state the version, decision needed, review date and work that depends on it. Identify the authorised contact and explain how conflicting comments should be consolidated.
If the input is missing, record the case as waiting with an owner and follow-up point. Do not leave it looking ready to proceed while people privately chase the client.
Use a feedback-delay decision note
Expected input and agreed review date.
Actual response or current missing information.
Work affected and remaining effort.
Capacity or supplier slots that may have changed.
Options, including a revised date, phased delivery or reduced scope.
Recommended option and decision owner.
Confirmed commitment and people who must be informed.
Keep the note proportionate. Its purpose is to support a decision, not establish blame through a long email history.
An illustrative response
A campaign team receives comments after its reserved production slot has passed. It reviews the changes and can either deliver the complete pack later or release an agreed first phase on the original date.
The account owner presents those options to the client and records the selected plan. The team updates the operational schedule after agreement, preserving the reason for the change.
Improve the next review cycle
Look for recurring causes: unclear requests, unavailable approvers, too many review versions or unrealistic feedback windows. A better review arrangement may be more useful than increasingly urgent reminders.
Related guidance: guide to working with an external operations partner.
