Project failure rarely begins with a dramatic collapse. More often, it starts as a small delay no one explains, a tense stakeholder conversation, a recurring rework loop, or a decision that keeps getting deferred. At first, these signs feel manageable. The project still appears to be moving. Reports stay green. Meetings continue. People say they are “across it”. Yet beneath the surface, hidden risks may already be eating into trust, delivery confidence, team energy, and busin