Build Your Edge

The Five-Step Plan for Rescuing a Failing Project


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When a big project goes off the rails, panic spreads fast. Deadlines slip. Teams freeze. Leaders stop sleeping.

That’s when you call someone like David Crawford, a delivery leader known for running toward the fire, not away from it. David’s built a reputation for rescuing complex, high-stakes programmes and turning them back into wins.

You can use his approach to rescue everything from small, time-critical projects that simply can’t afford to fail to large, multi-million-pound programmes that have gone off the rails. In this episode, he shares the exact five-step approach he uses to stabilise chaos, rebuild trust, and deliver results at any scale.

We break down:

  • How to spot the early signs a project’s in trouble
  • The five steps to bring focus, control, and momentum back
  • What to say (and not say) to customers when you’re behind
  • Why authentic leadership in crisis is more about calm than control

David’s also shared the Turnaround Measure Tracker, the simple spreadsheet he uses to diagnose problems, focus your efforts, and track recovery week by week.

If your project’s wobbling, or you just want to lead with clarity when pressure hits, this episode’s worth your time.

🎁 Free downloads

Download David’s free Turnaround Measure Tracker at https://www.buildyouredge.org/downloads/turnaround-measure-tracker

There’s also an accompanying guide to help you apply it today, available for free at https://www.buildyouredge.org/downloads/a-guide-to-the-turnaround-measure-tracker

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Build Your EdgeBy Jeremy Burns