Not letting the dough rise after it's been dimpled

The first rising period occurs after the dough has been mixed and the yeast has begun to colonize the flour, and the second occurs after the dough has been dimpled. Depending on the recipe, the second rise for focaccia can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 45 minutes. According to Cooking for My Soul, the second rise of the focaccia is critical for the development of the bread's texture and structure.

The dough will expand to the sides of the pan during the second rise, so you don't have to worry about stretching it out completely when you first fit it into the pan. If you choose a recipe that requires an overnight refrigeration period before the second rise, you may need to relax the dough before shaping it.