Ask HN: As a team lead how to handle project going off the rails?
This is not going to be like the other advice you get, but I&#x27;ve managed many projects in different organizations and I think it is sound. First and foremost, don&#x27;t sound any alarms.<p>Many organizations have common characteristics in this regard. First, they don&#x27;t expect you to be on time. Sales may think you&#x27;re going to launch on time, but it&#x27;s in their financial interest to think so. The rest of the org probably made a schedule they know you can&#x27;t meet because they think it motivates you to work harder.<p>Second, unless you&#x27;re in a startup where everyone&#x27;s inexperienced, most people probably already know you&#x27;ll be late, but aren&#x27;t saying it out loud. They likely have discussed it (up the chain) in meetings you&#x27;re not in.<p>Third, people do shoot the bearer of bad news. You can earn a rep as a negative person if you make _true_ predictions out-loud that don&#x27;t fit the common desire. This is especially true if some of the senior people who know (like your boss) haven&#x27;t been forthcoming with their bosses.<p>Have a quiet conversation with your boss over lunch or beers - not a meeting - and tell him&#x2F;her what you think. Be prepared with details, but if he&#x2F;she doesn&#x27;t ask for them, don&#x27;t provide any. There&#x27;s a good chance he&#x2F;she already knows as you suspect.<p>Even more casually (lunch&#x2F;beers), express your concerns to the project owner. It&#x27;s probably not new news to him&#x2F;her either. Being &quot;positive&quot; is a huge part of the corporate game.:  Again, if no details are asked for, don&#x27;t provide any. Shift the conversation to the weather or the world cup.<p>You&#x27;re now down. Go back to work.