"Why is the project delayed?"

It’s a question I used to dread answering. Early in my career, I'd struggle to explain. Now, I keep a log of every delay on a project. This helps me and my team:

1️⃣ Have a visible record of all delays
2️⃣ Reflect on the kind of delays we face and how we might mitigate them in future
3️⃣ Guide future project estimations

Some of the delays are within our sphere of control and some are outside. But having a record means we can learn from the experience and improve the next time.

Do you have any strategies to handle project delays?