When that expectation is not clearly established, designers often find themselves waiting. Waiting for feedback, waiting for approvals, waiting for decisions that quietly stall progress. That is when frustration builds and timelines start to slip.
There is always a ball in someone’s court. Sometimes it belongs to the designer, but very often the designer is waiting on a client decision. When there is no deadline attached to that decision, clients naturally take their time. The designer then thinks, “My client is derailing this project,” when in reality the project is being derailed by a lack of structure and leadership.
A very common example is product availability. If a client delays a decision and an item goes out of stock, it is easy to blame the client. But leadership sounds like this:
"Attached are the selections from today’s meeting. You seemed especially excited about the Persian rug, and it is possible for it to become unavailable if we wait too long. To make sure we can secure it, please let me know by Monday if you are ready to proceed."
Now the client is educated, a clear deadline has been set, and responsibility is defined. When there is a deadline, people either meet it or communicate that they cannot. And if they cannot, the designer’s role is simply to say, “No problem. When do you think you will be able to decide by?” That one question alone keeps projects moving forward.
