How to Explain a Delay to a Client
Added 2026-10-30
Lead with the new date, then cause and compensation; too much apology dilutes the message.
A project is delayed and I must tell the client. I will give the length of delay, the real cause, what is done, and the business impact. Write a notice under 200 words: 1) first sentence gives the new date and what is still guaranteed; 2) one key cause, no blame-shifting; 3) impact and my recommendation (what the client can do meanwhile); 4) compensation or acceleration option; 5) the next update date. Steady tone, no repeated apologies, no technical detail.
Site original
Chinese original
How to use
客户要的不是道歉，是「什么时候能好」。
Try tweaking it
- Have it state how the hypothesis could be falsified before discussing execution.
- Split the plan into a one-week testable experiment.
What you should get
- A small testable experiment with a failure threshold
- Costs, risks, and what needs outside confirmation
Common mistakes
- Asking for a "full business plan" and getting unverifiable optimistic assumptions.
- No failure threshold, so you never know whether to continue.
How to check the output
- There is a clear failure threshold, testable within a week.
- Costs, assumptions and risks are listed separately.
Where it works
- Good for: turning business assumptions into a small testable experiment with a failure threshold first.
- Watch out: for pricing, contracts and legal points, treat output as a draft needing professional review.