Updated September 2026: in February 2020 I joined a call unsure whether I was expected to have built something, when I was actually waiting on the onsite team for inputs. The onsite lead agreed the work should pause until stakeholders responded. I have rewritten this into advice on handling a deliverable that is blocked on someone else.
With no email from the onsite team all day, I had no inputs for the deck. I spent the time uncertain whether I should be building sample slides anyway or asking other account teams. On the call, when asked for updates, I said I had none because I was waiting on theirs. After a pause the onsite lead agreed the slides could not move without stakeholder input, said he would chase it, and told me to hold. The call was over in minutes.
What does it mean to be blocked on a deliverable?
It means the next step genuinely depends on information or a decision from someone else. It is different from simply not knowing what to do, which is something you can usually resolve yourself by asking. Being clear about which one you are in is the first step.
How should you report being blocked?
Early and in writing, not only when asked on a call. A short message such as "The pricing and scope slides are waiting on the client's volume figures, requested on Monday; nothing further can move until then" makes the dependency visible to everyone. It also protects you from the impression that nothing happened because you did nothing.
What can you do while you wait?
- Prepare the structure and the parts that do not depend on the missing input.
- Draft placeholders that show exactly where the input will go.
- List the specific questions for the stakeholder, so they can answer quickly.
- Check the repository for similar material you can adapt once inputs arrive.
Should you build sample content without inputs?
Only a light version, and only if it helps the stakeholder respond. Detailed guesses are often thrown away and can anchor the discussion in the wrong place. A simple outline with clear gaps is usually more useful than a polished draft built on assumptions.
When should a blocked deliverable be escalated?
When the missing input threatens the deadline. At that point the question is no longer yours; it belongs to whoever owns the relationship with the stakeholder. The onsite lead taking that on, as happened on my call, is the right outcome. Make sure the new timeline is agreed at the same moment.