Delivery models get a lot of attention — and fair enough. They set out how teams are organised, who holds responsibility, and how work should move across an agency. Whether it’s centralised pods, distributed squads, or some hybrid mix, the model lays the groundwork.
The problem is, structure on its own doesn’t deliver anything.
What actually drives outcomes is the approach — the day-to-day habits that keep teams aligned, focused, and moving when projects inevitably get messy. It’s the part that’s usually overlooked once the org charts are drawn and the decks are presented.
That’s why I developed what I call Tactical Delivery Habits: a practical, flexible framework that turns any model into something that works on the ground, not just on paper. In this piece, we’ll look at what delivery models do well, where they fall short, and why a tactical approach is the difference between promises made and promises kept.
What Delivery Models Get Right
Delivery models earn their place. They bring structure, define expectations, and set the scene for scale.
A good model answers some important questions:
- Who is delivering the work (roles and responsibilities),
- How teams are resourced (in-house, nearshore, offshore, hybrid),
- How the work should move (handoffs, approvals, collaboration points).
Without a model, agencies can quickly lose operational grip. Scaling client accounts, coordinating multiple workstreams, and onboarding new people would be guesswork at best.
Delivery models also help create consistency across core operations — onboarding teams, managing projects, and serving clients — so growth doesn’t turn into chaos.
In short: models create the conditions for delivery to succeed.
But they don’t guarantee that it will.
Where Delivery Models Fall Short
Models provide structure, but structure doesn’t deliver work.
A delivery model might define who is in the room. It rarely explains how people will work together when the situation becomes less clear — when priorities clash, when projects stall, or when two teams pull in opposite directions.
Models look neat on a whiteboard.
Delivery rarely stays neat in the real world.
Common cracks tend to appear:
- Misaligned expectations between teams and clients,
- Inconsistent standards across projects,
- Unclear decision-making when plans shift,
- Slow, friction-heavy delivery that gets stuck in process over progress.
Not because teams aren’t talented. Not because people aren’t trying.
Because the model is only the starting point.
It’s the tactical habits that actually get work over the line.
Tactical Delivery Habits That Drive Results
Delivery isn’t about managing paperwork.
It’s about creating momentum — real work moving steadily, without unnecessary friction.
Tactical Delivery Habits are the repeatable behaviours that make that momentum possible, whatever model an agency is using:
- Start with alignment and outcome clarity. Before a project starts, ensure the team knows exactly what outcomes matter — and are genuinely committed to them, not just following instructions.
- Strengthen team dynamics. Delivery depends on trust, transparency, and collective focus. Good teams surface tensions early and challenge ideas safely — because they know outcomes matter more than egos.
- Build lightweight routines. Simple rhythms like daily check-ins, shared boards, and regular reviews keep delivery visible without overwhelming teams with admin.
- Surface the hidden work early. Document what’s needed, automate where you can, and make sure scripts, environments, and deployment steps aren’t afterthoughts. It’s the infrastructure real delivery relies on.
- Foster deep focus. Protect the team’s ability to focus on meaningful chunks of work. Avoid scattergun multitasking that saps energy and slows real progress.
- Release small, release often. Ship smaller increments of value early and regularly. Build, test, learn — instead of gambling on a perfect launch.
- Adapt as you go. Plans are useful, but responsiveness wins. Great delivery teams spot shifts early and adjust without drama, keeping outcomes firmly in view.
- Close the feedback loop. Don’t wait for end-of-project post-mortems. Build quick, honest feedback into the delivery rhythm, while insights are still fresh enough to act on.
None of these habits are complicated.
But they have to be deliberate.
Bringing It Together
Delivery models still matter. They give an agency structure, clarity, and a way to scale.
But structure alone doesn’t deliver outcomes.
Approach does.
Without tactical habits — clear outcomes, strong teams, light routines, rapid feedback — even the best-designed model will eventually stall under real-world pressure.
The good news?
Any agency, in any model, can build these habits into the way they deliver. It doesn’t require ripping up org charts or adding endless process. It just takes the decision to be deliberate about how work moves.
Delivery approaches are where promises turn into results.
Is your agency structured to deliver — or set up to slow itself down?
If this made you rethink how your teams actually deliver value, I’d love to hear about it.
Drop me an email, or let’s have a call about making delivery something you can trust, not just hope for.