“Next check-in meeting is at 4 pm on Friday”.  
 
Ouch, sounds like someone is in the penalty box.  
 
Projects are easy when everyone knows the job they must do. But how long does that last? All it takes is one complex problem needing more time or money to solve. That snowballs into needing more resources. And BAM! The project is off the rails, and the project team is in the penalty box.  
 
Here are the remedies I have used and recommend to course-correct when a project (or any collaborative effort) threatens to impact the anticipated return on investment:  
 
Whiteboarding [Cuts Waste] – Bring a team into the room and start mapping the problem from start to finish. Each team member should play a part. Expect some heated debate—the frustration (and eventual relief) feels like untangling a knot of necklaces. 
 
When to Use: When teams have been siloed for too long and don’t fully understand each other’s roles or handoffs. 
Expert tip – leave the whiteboard or sticky notes up and ask people to add to it throughout the week. It’s a great way to get the quieter team members involved.
 
Daily Workshops [Speeds Decisions] – Schedule 1–2 hour sessions, several times a week, to tackle major decision points. 
 
When to Use:  A disagreement among teams is preventing planning from moving forward. These meetings can be contentious.  They often involve concessions and cooperation from both sides.  
 
One-On-Ones [Surfaces Risk Early] – Sit down individually with team members to surface pain points and ideas. 
 
When to Use: If the loudest voices are getting all the airtime, look for those who are heavily involved but not speaking up. 
 
Daily Check-Ins [Drives Accountability] – Quick morning meetings to set priorities and identify blockers. Ensure all tasks are assigned an owner and due date. In Agile, they are called “stand-ups” and are used to sync progress and spot obstacles early. 
 
When to Use: When deadlines are at risk of being missed because work is not getting completed. This often happens when complex work. 
Expert tip – Add late afternoon “Penalty Box Check-ins” if needed.  
 
Penalties are unavoidable. Projects uncover blind spots and teams will be better off as a result. The key is knowing how to get their team scoring again. How quickly are your teams getting back on offense? 
 
Keep turning that chaos into progress, 
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