Leadership Part 6: When a teammate falls behind

Almost every team has someone who falls behind. Before you complain about them or quietly do their work, talk to them. There's often a reason, and a clear plan fixes more than you'd expect.

Don't cover for them in silence

Doing their part yourself feels kind. But the problem grows, you burn out, and they never learn that anyone noticed.

Talk privately, and early

Rohan was supposed to send the sponsor list on Wednesday, and it's now Friday. Meera calls him, just the two of them:

1. Facts, not labels: "The sponsor list was due on Wednesday, and we haven't got it." Not "You're so irresponsible."
2. A real question: "What's going on?" His mother has been unwell, and he's been travelling home every weekend.
3. A plan made together: "Can you send what you have by tonight? I'll ask Kavya to finish the rest, and you could take the thank-you emails after the event."

Make the plan concrete

Agree on exactly what, by when, and when you'll check in. Then send a short message so there's no confusion later: "As discussed: Rohan sends the list he has tonight, and Kavya finishes it by Monday."

If it keeps happening

• Name the pattern directly: "This is the third deadline that's slipped. What needs to change?"
• Change the role. A smaller or different task might suit them better.
• If nothing changes, go to whoever is in charge, like your professor, faculty coordinator or manager. Bring facts: the tasks, the dates and what was agreed.

Group projects with marks

Split the work in writing at the start, in the group chat or a shared document. If someone doesn't do their part, you can show that split to your professor. That's fair to everyone, especially the people who did their share.

Try it

If someone on your team is behind, send them a private message today: one fact about what's late, one question about what's going on, and an offer to plan it together.

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That's the Leadership series. None of it needs a title. Start with your next group project: one clear plan, and one meeting that ends on time.