Last updated on Jul 8, 2024

Here's how you can salvage relationship building after missing deadlines.

Missing deadlines can be a significant setback in building and maintaining relationships, whether with colleagues, clients, or partners. It's a breach of trust that can undermine your reliability. Yet, it's not the end of the world. With the right approach, you can salvage the situation and even strengthen your relationships. The key lies in transparent communication, taking responsibility, and demonstrating a commitment to improvement. This article will guide you through the steps to rebuild trust and keep your relationships on track after a missed deadline.

1 Acknowledge Fast

When you miss a deadline, the first step is to acknowledge it promptly. Don't wait for the other party to confront you. Reach out as soon as you realize the deadline won't be met. This shows that you're proactive and responsible. Explain the situation without making excuses and express your regret for any inconvenience caused. Your honesty will be appreciated and will set the stage for discussing next steps.

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Douglas Loyal Nerdahl
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I’m not sure why I keep getting all these questions that don’t apply to me. I mean, I thought I stated my position clearly, and yet they keep coming. I could really go for some pizza if anyone wants to drop some off.

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Dr Katie Stirling

Bespoke Relationship Solutions | Clinical Psychologist | Certified Gottman Couples Therapist
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Taking responsibility is a key element to repairing any relationship. If you go in on the defensive it will likely initiate a reactive interaction pattern. Own your mistakes, apologise and acknowledge the impact before you explain what happened. And when you do explain be sure your doing it in a way that does not minimise the impact or the ownership of responsibility.

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2 Communicate Clearly

After acknowledging the missed deadline, communicate clearly about what went wrong and why. Transparency is crucial; provide a brief but honest overview of the factors that led to the delay. This isn't about making excuses but about giving a clear picture of the situation. Ensure that your explanation is understandable and avoid technical jargon that might confuse the issue further. Clear communication can prevent misunderstandings and demonstrate your commitment to resolving the issue.

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Douglas Loyal Nerdahl
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Communication is cool. It beats not communicating. Where is my pizza? I like pizza, and this sentence is to get to the minimum character limit. Let’s see if we hit it!

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Dr Katie Stirling

Bespoke Relationship Solutions | Clinical Psychologist | Certified Gottman Couples Therapist
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First see point one- own it before you explain it. Then let the other party know where things went worng. Doing this helps them have confidence you won't make the same mistake. Until you have awareness and ownership its impossible to reestablish trust and belief in your capabilities.

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3 Offer Solutions

Once you've explained the situation, it's important to immediately offer solutions. This demonstrates that you're not just acknowledging the problem but are also actively working towards fixing it. Propose a new timeline and any additional support you might need to meet this new deadline. Be realistic with your commitments; it's better to set a timeline you're confident you can meet than to disappoint again.

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Dr Katie Stirling

Bespoke Relationship Solutions | Clinical Psychologist | Certified Gottman Couples Therapist
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Every leader loves someone who comes with solutions rather than problems. "Here's the issue and here's 2 ways we can do to address it- what are your thoughts? " Proactive, problem solving, good communication - every leader wants this!

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4 Make Amends

In addition to proposing solutions, consider how you can make amends for the inconvenience caused. This might involve offering additional services free of charge or providing a discount on future work. This gesture shows that you value the relationship and are willing to go the extra mile to preserve it. It also helps in shifting the focus from the missed deadline to the future of the partnership.

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5 Follow Through

After setting a new deadline and making amends, it's crucial to follow through on your commitments. This is where you can begin to rebuild trust. Ensure that all measures are taken to meet the new deadline, and keep the other party updated on your progress. Consistent communication and delivering on your promises will demonstrate that the missed deadline was an exception and not a pattern.

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6 Reflect & Improve

Lastly, use this experience as a learning opportunity. Reflect on what went wrong and take steps to improve your processes to prevent similar situations in the future. Whether it's better time management, improved communication channels, or more realistic deadline setting, showing that you're committed to improvement can turn a negative situation into a positive outcome for your relationship-building efforts.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Ahmed El-Marashly

Top LinkedIn Voice | Logistics & Supply Chain Expert | Business Consultant & Instructor | Driving Business Growth & Success | Operational Excellence | Business Transformation | MBA | CISCM | 26k+ Followers
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Salvaging relationship building after missing deadlines involves a few key steps: 1. Acknowledge: Admit the mistake. 2. Apologize: Say sorry sincerely. 3. Explain: Briefly clarify reasons. 4. Commit: Promise to do better. 5. Rebuild: Show consistency and reliability. 6. Feedback: Seek input for improvement. 7. Amends: Offer to fix any issues. 8. Communicate: Keep open lines. 9. Learn: Use the experience to grow. These steps help in showing accountability, sincerity, and commitment to rebuilding trust and maintaining positive relationships.

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Here's how you can salvage relationship building after missing deadlines.

1

2

3

4

5

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7

1 Acknowledge Fast

2 Communicate Clearly

3 Offer Solutions

4 Make Amends

5 Follow Through

6 Reflect & Improve

7 Here’s what else to consider

Relationship Building

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Here's how you can salvage relationship building after missing deadlines.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Acknowledge Fast

2 Communicate Clearly

3 Offer Solutions

4 Make Amends

5 Follow Through

6 Reflect & Improve

7 Here’s what else to consider

Relationship Building

Rate this article

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