{"id":38071,"date":"2023-02-02T11:11:43","date_gmt":"2023-02-02T11:11:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/toggl.com\/blog\/?p=38071"},"modified":"2025-11-11T15:14:07","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T15:14:07","slug":"project-risks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/toggl.com\/blog\/project-risks","title":{"rendered":"11 Common Project Risks: Types, Examples & How To Avoid"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Struggling with keeping your project on track? Are deadlines constantly being pushed back? Are your project profits slowly evaporating?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We often plan a project with this overly optimistic mindset \u2014 never considering the myriad of project risks out there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you know it, you\u2019re mid-project and starting to feel the heat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Source<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Most projects \u201cfail\u201d for similar reasons. So we\u2019ll explore the most common project risks (and how to prevent them) in this guide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s go!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

11 common types of project risks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to remember that risks don\u2019t always appear as a dark, foreboding catastrophes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common types of risks can be filed under the label:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201c$#!% happens!\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

(particularly if you don\u2019t pay attention).<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s a quick summary of project risk examples for you skimmers out there:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Project risk<\/strong><\/th>Description<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1. Scope creep<\/td>Changes to a project\u2019s scope after starting<\/td><\/tr>
2. Blowing your budget<\/td>Spilling over your estimated budget<\/td><\/tr>
3. Project delays<\/td>Tasks take longer than estimated<\/td><\/tr>
4. Not enough resources<\/td>Not having the necessary resources to complete a project<\/td><\/tr>
5. Lack of clarity<\/td>Unclear requirements, scope, or communication<\/td><\/tr>
6. Client issues<\/td>Inaccurate expectations and miscommunication from stakeholders<\/td><\/tr>
7. Contractor delays<\/td>Contractors not being accountable<\/td><\/tr>
8. Unrealistic deadlines<\/td>Unrealistic deadlines your team can\u2019t meet<\/td><\/tr>
9. Low performance<\/td>Burnout and poor project goals lead to work just not being done<\/td><\/tr>
10. Inexperienced workers <\/td>Inexperienced team members are assigned to projects that carry a lot of weight<\/td><\/tr>
11. Poor risk management<\/td>Identifying and preparing for all of these risks \ud83d\ude09<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And here they are in full…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Scope creep <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

68%of poorly managed projects<\/a> experience scope creep \u2014 so there’s a good chance you’ve felt it, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scope creep<\/a> refers to the tendency for the scope of a project to expand beyond its original objectives and requirements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It tends to happen when you agree to sign off on additional client requests outside the project’s scope \u2014 without adjusting the timeline or budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But this often leads to late projects, a stressed team, and project profit margins sailing off into the sunset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc4b\ud83d\udc4b\ud83d\udc4b<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How can you avoid it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few steps you can take to banish scope creep for good:<\/p>\n\n\n\n