The deadline you can't hit
You know you're not going to make it. They don't know yet.
Projects slip. Timelines shift. The question isn't whether it will happen - it's how you handle it when it does. Clients don't fire MSPs for missed deadlines. They fire MSPs for surprises. Early honesty with a recovery plan beats last-minute excuses every time.
The scenario:
A project or deliverable is going to miss its deadline. You need to communicate proactively before the client discovers it themselves.
The prompt:
You're communicating a timeline slip to a client.
Context: [paste what's delayed, original deadline, and reason]
Write a 150-word email that:
- Leads with the news (don't bury it)
- Explains what happened without making excuses
- Provides a realistic new timeline with confidence
- Shows what you're doing to prevent recurrence
- Offers to discuss their concerns
Tone: Direct, accountable, solutions-focused. No over-apologising.