Dealing with sustainability challenges in a project timeline. How do you handle client concerns about delays?

When sustainability is a priority, delays can be part of the journey. Sustainable materials often require longer lead times, and innovative processes might not always proceed as planned. It's crucial to communicate these potential delays to your clients early on, explaining that they are inherent to the nature of sustainable design. Emphasize that these challenges are not setbacks but necessary steps toward achieving a more responsible and environmentally-friendly end product. Your transparency in addressing these potential delays will help build trust and align expectations.

Client Communication Open and transparent communication with the client is crucial. This involves explaining the reasons for the delays, discussing potential solutions or adjustments to the timeline, and setting realistic expectations. Keeping the client informed throughout the process helps build trust and collaboration, mitigating concerns about project delays.

When working in sustainable practices it is correct there may be issues with supply and things may not go as smoothly as possible. One Thing I would say it recognize opportunity. It is going to take investments from companies to proliferate some of these technologies and products more. If your company is financially solvent, maybe it’s time to start a conversation on how your organization can help the supplier with R&D investments. It is going it take investments from our companies to infuse capital and spur faster growth. This can also signals where funds should be granted in accordance to government grants, bonds, and loans. If we continue relying on small startups to bare all the cost we wont produce the solutions we need quick enough.

I always believe when starting a project that communication and processes are set in stone with clear interaction days so it’s easy to expect an inquiry or an update. With setting certain days/times for partner feedback and interaction I train my partner on how and when to communicate. It also gives them ease of mind as long as I make that call. Ghosting on anyone is a bad look. We don't like when partners ignore us, so to ensure ethical practices make it a habit of at least a weekly check-in to just check the pulse and signal to each other things things are still on track.

I like to keep things concise, so I even lock in times that partners have to get me feedback with a max of 48-72 hours before I I reach out to see if they need any further assistance. If it goes a few days beyond that I try to schedule a clarifying 15 minute call, and remind them of a shelving fee for stagnant work. Just a little nudge to keep things from getting too much in the weeds.

I don’t like to use the word solution, because nothing is every a full stop solve for the problem but what I like to do is use remedy. This is how we can remedy “this issue” a remedy is a solution in the moment, but also leaves open that another may and most likely will be needed in the future. Our climate crisis is the same it’s a disease that needs remedies. Once we get to complete carbon neutrality can we consider something a solution, until then we develop the best remedies possible for the partner and the situation.