You’re halfway through your project when a new board member shows up at the table and slaughters your designs—and your roadmap. That, my friend, is something we call business scope creep. Do you know what to do next? How will you renegotiate when Tuesday hits and a creep lands on your plate?
Just like Sloth from the Goonies, scope creep is terrifying when you don’t understand it. But when you look past its scary surface, it can save your life (or at least your agency’s). To steer your project in the right direction, you have to take the reins. Meeting privately with that new board member allows you to halt any ego-driven hero moves, pause, get alignment, and rescope your project roadmap (new faces mean new out of scope opinions). The clincher: that board member might be your best opportunity to rekindle trust in your relationship, increase project value, and make sure you get paid for the work you do.
Read Scope creep: The thing that never sleeps
Want the tl;dr version?
Get the scope creep guide
Want to prevent scope creep in the first place?
Define the red flags that trip you up
![](https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=799&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=1568&s=a7ea08851ed1fceb39817e3bb4552cce 1568w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1598&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&w=3136&s=0dec54ac23d53babfa020493bc501d0e 3136w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2398&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&w=4704&s=557428fe157174c3530ef85492ecff70 4704w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=522&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=1024&s=f99c853377f57f18e0eaa445c5b9d036 1024w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1044&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&w=2048&s=e641437cd257af5e01e822b403903dcb 2048w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1566&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&w=3072&s=596e4ee0f0a77e1296994d945c5ad371 3072w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=390&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&w=766&s=9066aebd8020973e74f8fd42b95c9111 766w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=781&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&w=1532&s=c4b362bc392b17f81cc74adbd8791411 1532w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1171&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=30&w=2298&s=4bcb45d86740c2f6f331af9e26297e96 2298w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=228&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&w=448&s=b4f1ececfb0cb15bf2c5f4108268af3b 448w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=456&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&w=896&s=7909fcc29d2f49baf93f2c29b6f19f5d 896w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/source-1.gif?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=685&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=30&w=1344&s=5feeac97661eb5cefa1cef5b98d77c24 1344w)
We relaunched Louder Than Ten!
![Screenshot of this website](https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1042&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=1568&s=68ab768e92818b82e7a0b6b2e9dee207 1568w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2085&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&w=3136&s=1333ddce6f0c46c165400891bb855ceb 3136w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=3128&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&w=4704&s=6ba06d352f823152cc53ed9dfa9ab4c2 4704w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=680&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=1024&s=53b191f3be58572661ab4891a2f9ce59 1024w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1361&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&w=2048&s=cc2ec3f0b31bb1ab73dc7d3d1e102885 2048w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2042&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&w=3072&s=1396f5abf76e8d74b91bf389f323b74e 3072w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=509&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&w=766&s=d99e0999e24d30b5cdee21ee566ddcaf 766w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1018&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&w=1532&s=031c909944f5fc0880f618d21c2b377a 1532w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1528&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=30&w=2298&s=fb8c2f15390e6eaedadf43567ec04f2a 2298w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=297&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&w=448&s=20930f97cd812f8dd3f73dc99635aba9 448w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=595&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&w=896&s=92fa68c304da9428d1720902cf9d1c00 896w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/home-2000.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=893&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=30&w=1344&s=2dc11e8be79339279499819bcf36bbea 1344w)
We just relaunched our site. Aside from the new pages, be on the lookout for the next hundred things coming down the pipe full force. We’ve been busy bees this year.
Stay tuned for:
- More case studies
- Diagnostic tools to help assess agency health
- A steady release of helpful PM and Ops resources
I’ve got questions…
- How can we take the lead and design more equitable organizational models for our industry?
- Which organizations are you partnering with to help underrepresented folks get into technology and leadership positions?
- How might we create a collective safety net to support each other as agencies who want to offer better benefits, short term leave, and more training and education opportunities?
- How might smaller agencies share a PM or coordinator if they can’t yet hire full-time?
Got some ideas? I want to hear from you.
From the #bookshelf
The best links posted in Slack this month. Straight from our apprentices and their trainers:
The Evil List
Do you work with anyone on the evil list? You shouldn’t.
2020 Economic Outlook
Don’t worry. There (probably) won’t be a recession in 2020. An optimistic view from Promethean Research.
The Magic Email
If client prospects disappear, send them this email. It works.
If you don’t know how to say someone’s name, just ask
Better Allies Newsletter
Weekly ways to be a better ally
Cures for your project headaches
![Digital Project Management Foundations](https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=881&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=1568&s=c298113b076826406c249b3d481fec9c 1568w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1763&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&w=3136&s=79dd2ee9f0337a90b36d8f89fe670982 3136w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2644&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&w=4704&s=b854022963ee58e870ed9a7e167b2ac9 4704w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=575&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=1024&s=0298c93dda503456956c2d37b7fff8b0 1024w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1151&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&w=2048&s=b4601d79ed57ab64da73ef68826594dc 2048w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1727&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&w=3072&s=c30b42f491d6706a739edbaad52cb0a6 3072w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=430&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&w=766&s=136f4199d8f9f90657802b8e4aaddd4f 766w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=861&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&w=1532&s=22388103683ca2c3666985e826158ef1 1532w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1291&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=30&w=2298&s=004b567e144ef02c1351f4fa3f62f9bd 2298w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=251&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&w=448&s=266de41c39e29d08a476e2f97d8a24f8 448w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=503&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&w=896&s=2f1774789203743df9a313f35a17f978 896w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/dpmf-banner-990000079e04513c.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=755&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=30&w=1344&s=7a1523258627886c57efe5f599a69627 1344w)
Tune-up your projects.
Take our 3-month Digital Project Management Foundations course.
Louder Than Ten’s Digital Project Management Foundations course had a huge impact on my professional growth as a PM, and as a result, on our company as a whole. Our projects are running more smoothly and profitably, and our clients are noticing. I’m grateful to be a part of such a collaborative community. Kudos to LT10 for all they’re doing to grow and support leaders in our industry.
Great for dialling up your PM and Ops processes a few notches. Next class starts March 18, 2020.
Only $3990
![A gantt chart/midi track](https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=882&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=1568&s=e88dd8e3c575b77be13c1f73154239f5 1568w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1764&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&w=3136&s=41dcd0211543b1c0e2e38224b450ad4c 3136w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=2646&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&w=4704&s=b660b679fc59531fb88f7f28f4c0ac0e 4704w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=576&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=82&w=1024&s=147e236ec3085607190b4b71f985eab4 1024w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1152&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=61&w=2048&s=990b46cb3370a5f3825638183f1ed7b3 2048w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1728&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=41&w=3072&s=80b70b3de8f818ca6c7e48dff3eab364 3072w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=430&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&w=766&s=48d3effd3f3bcfddbf96bee45df909bf 766w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=861&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&w=1532&s=7c9b867273befb433b823e75f0068583 1532w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1292&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=30&w=2298&s=c5511e19f3eaed089dcbb7225c395593 2298w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=252&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=60&w=448&s=f4b52dfa8b96889b6576b6fb863260fd 448w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=504&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=45&w=896&s=b31352efe4d50fde99293e80777fbb07 896w, https://louderthanten.imgix.net/articles/apprenticeship-banner.png?auto=format&crop=focalpoint&domain=louderthanten.imgix.net&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=756&ixlib=php-3.3.1&q=30&w=1344&s=1925f1a928f0b7ccda5f71e76b0616e0 1344w)
Be your client’s biggest fan
Take our 8-month Digital PM Operations Apprenticeship.
Graduates of this intensive program are moving into business development, operations, and PM leadership roles in their companies. They are shifting the ways their companies operate. Call it a proverbial agency launch pad. Next class starts March 5th, 2020.
Starting at $7990.