Three Things I Ask When a Project Starts to Drift

Before you lose control, ask the right questions.

Every project drifts at some point.

It doesn't always come with alarms.

There's no one yelling.

But if you've been around the work long enough, you can feel it.

• Progress slows, but no one can name why

• Meetings get quieter

• Crews start second-guessing priorities

• Little things slip—then pile up

Most projects don't fail overnight.

They unravel slowly, then suddenly.

The key is catching it early—before a slight drift becomes a full-blown derailment.

Over the years, I've learned that three simple questions can tell you everything you need to know about whether your project is still on track or starting to slip.

Question 1: What's different from two weeks ago?

The truth is always in the shift.

If you don't know what's changed—personnel, delivery delays, unresolved decisions—you're managing in the dark.

Ask this during a walk with your super, a call with your foreman, or your weekly trade huddle.

Don't just track progress. Track changes. That's where the problems hide.

Question 2: Who's unclear on their next move?

Project momentum dies in confusion.

If even one crew member doesn't know what's next or what's expected this week, you've got drift, whether you see it yet or not.

Ask this:

• On Mondays: "Who's stuck? What's unclear?"

• During coordination: "Is every crew lined up for the next 3 days?"

• With your field team: "Where are people guessing instead of knowing?"

Momentum comes from clarity—not pressure.

Question 3: What's not written down that should be?

Construction lives in documentation.

But drift lives in assumptions.

Too many updates, decisions, and risks stay in people's heads—until something goes wrong.

Ask this:

• "What do we think we agreed on but haven't documented?"

• "What conversation do we need to put in writing?"

• "What needs to go in today's field log that didn't?"

You don't need more paperwork.

You need fewer gaps.

Final Thought: Catch the drift before it spreads

These questions take 10 minutes.

Ask them often. Ask them early. Ask them even when things "feel fine."

Because when you lead with curiosity, not a crisis, you fix the drift before it becomes a disaster.

Call to Action:

Take 10 minutes today to ask these three questions on your job.

Then, watch what they reveal.

And if your project already feels like it's drifting, let's fix it together.

Book a free 30-minute Fix-It Strategy Session with GRPM Services. We'll steady the wheel before it spins. https://calendly.com/grpmservices