Timeline's Shifted Again (And Stakeholders Are Losing Faith)
READ TIME - 4 MINUTES
"Just heard from the Program Manager. Go-live's pushed back. Again."
Maya stared at her change impact assessment, now covered in crossed-out dates and question marks. Third delay this quarter.
Her stakeholders had been patient with the first shift, sceptical about the second, and now...
The Change Champs slack channel she’d set up told the story.
Where stakeholders once fired back immediate responses and jumped at workshop invites, now every message felt like shouting into the void.
That early energy about the change was slipping away, one unanswered message at a time.
"Here we go," she said to her empty office, pulling up the stakeholder matrix on her screen. "Need to stop the eye-rolling before it becomes contagious."
When your go-live date feels like a moving target and your stakeholders are losing faith, here's how to keep your change program from unravelling:
1. The "Radical Transparency" Approach
First up, stop trying to sugar-coat what's happening. People can handle the truth - they just need to understand it.
How to do it:
Share the real reasons for delays (not just "technical issues")
Break down complex problems into plain English
Show what's being done to address the delays
Be clear about what's known vs unknown
Create a simple timeline of changes and why they happened
Keep communication channels open, even when there's no update
Pro tip: Nothing kills trust faster than feeling like you're being kept in the dark. Even "I don't know yet, but here's what we're doing to find out" is better than radio silence.
2. The "Keep Moving Forward" Strategy
Just because the program’s timeline has shifted doesn't mean everything needs to stop.
How to do it:
Identify what can still progress (training, experience labs, listening tours, etc.)
Focus on readiness activities that add value regardless of timing
Use the extra time to deepen stakeholder engagement
If possible, run pilot programs or proof of concepts
Develop more comprehensive support materials
Pro tip: Think of delays as bonus prep time, not just waiting time. What could you do better with this extra runway?
3. The "Stakeholder Confidence Kit"
Give your stakeholders something solid to hold onto while dates are shifting.
How to do it:
Create a clear "despite the delays, here's what we know for sure" list
Show progress on non-technical elements
Share stories from pilot areas or early adopters (even if you’ve shared them in the past)
Keep visible momentum on things within your control
Maintain regular touchpoints with key stakeholders
Give people practical ways to stay involved
Pro tip: People can handle a changing timeline if they still believe in where they're heading.
We all know timeline shifts are part of change - it's how you handle them that matters.
Your job isn't to defend the delays; it's to keep people connected to the 'why' while the 'when' sorts itself out.
Remember: Sometimes the best way to maintain confidence isn't by promising it won't happen again - it's by showing how you're making the most of the situation we're in.
That's it for this week.
Next Tuesday we're diving into a new challenge - don't miss it!
See you then,
Team EVER
PS: Someone pass this on to you?
Nice, you’ve got cool friends! Subscribe here to snag your own practical change insights every Tuesday.