242 – The Early Warning Signs Your Project Is Going Off Track
September 22, 2026
Have you ever looked at a project and thought, “Everything says we’re on track, but something doesn’t feel right”?
The budget appears fine, the team is busy, and progress reports look positive. Yet deadlines keep shifting, decisions are taking longer than expected, and the scope seems to be growing without anyone formally approving the change. In this episode of The Business Behind Your Business, Paul Sweeney sits down with project management consultant Richard Broo to discuss why projects rarely fail overnight and how business owners can identify the warning signs before small issues become costly problems. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience, including work with major organisations such as Toyota and General Electric, Richard shares practical strategies that small and medium business owners can apply to improve project outcomes.
What you’ll learn:
- The early warning signs that a project is drifting off course
- Why communication breakdowns create costly misunderstandings
- How poor scoping and inadequate planning lead to scope creep and budget blowouts
- The importance of monitoring costs, timelines and staff capacity
- How to identify risk triggers before they become major issues
- Why successful projects focus on delivering value, not just completing tasks
Throughout the conversation, Richard explains why many businesses wait too long to seek help and how a lack of discipline around planning, reporting and accountability often leads to avoidable delays and overspending. He also shares practical ways to bring teams back into alignment, uncover the root cause of problems and get projects moving in the right direction again. Whether you’re leading a major business transformation, implementing a new system, or managing day-to-day operational improvements, the lessons in this episode can help you avoid common mistakes and improve your chances of success.
Richard Broo has spent more than four decades helping organizations recover projects that are over budget, behind schedule, poorly scoped, or at risk of failing.
His work spans Fortune 500 companies, mid-market firms, and private-equity-backed businesses across manufacturing, packaging, automotive, medical equipment, construction materials, consumer goods, and electronics. He is often brought in when internal teams are stuck and leadership needs clear, practical solutions.
As founder of True North PMP Consulting, Richard works inside client organizations to identify the root causes of project failure, restore clarity and accountability, and help teams bring complex projects back under control.
www.truenorthpmpconsulting.com
This episode is supported by the Business Planning Operating System. My 9-module course is built from 30 years of experience as an accountant, giving business owners a simple, one-page 90-day plan they’ll actually use. Learn more at thebusinessbehindyourbusiness.com/focus
