Don’t take deadlines as deadly

“I've learned over decades of building that a deadline is a potent tool for problem-solving.”

-Adam Savage

Unconfirmed statistics indicate that nearly fifty out of every hundred people postpone for tomorrow what can be done today and amongst them, twenty are chronic defaulters. The remainder is either disinterested and shirks or fails to complete tasks otherwise. Whatever be the case, they are all cases of default, whether deliberate, circumstantial or inadvertent.

Since productivity and efficiency is invariably everybody's aim. Hence, the fear of not being able to perform well looms over them. But they seem to have a dawdling attitude towards their work and assignments, which is definitely not desirable. So it is all about deadlines - setting them, meeting them, working with them and beating the stress that comes with them.

SETTING DEADLINES: The process of setting deadlines comprises several steps, more common ones are:

· Skill upgrading: Escapist behaviour can be got rid of and self-trouncing actions overcome by attending a course on soft skills. It also facilitates realization of the importance of setting deadlines, besides helping acknowledge the damaging nature of such tendencies.

· Exercising control: Deadlines are useful when they are utilized for ventures and assignments over which complete domination and jurisdiction exists. For example, a person can exercise control over the time required to complete a task involving writing work with relative ease. But if they have to follow an exercise regimen and be required to shed flab within a given period of time, it would be a difficult proposition.

· Pledge: When beating any idea of setting a deadline, a sort of promise is required to be made. It ought to be an obligation imposed on oneself that this work will be completed in time and to precision. The nitty-gritty of the procedure is to comprehend that formulating objectives and goals and sticking by them are the secret to setting one's deadline and adhering to them.

MEETING DEADLINES: Living up to deadlines and dispensing good quality performance are concurrent actions. If a person is short of time, his or her career can be made or blemished. Some actions that facilitate meeting deadlines are amplified below:

·  Clarification: Whenever an assignment is being given, all doubts should be clarified. Questions should be asked, ideas given and elucidations sought. It will be better for the boss and the employee alike if all ambiguous issues are made clear ab initio. The boss would appreciate the employee's concern and will not regard queries as a pretext for evading the project.

·  Jotting down: Upon a task being assigned, the same should be reduced it to writing. The human brain too has limitations as there is a tendency to disregard minute details which, contribute to perfection. Excessive dependence on memory therefore is not recommended. Reference material at hand, be it in a diary or on the computer will always stand in good stead.

·  Collation: Only one file or folder should be maintained for a particular assignment. If a computer is being used for making downloads and collation, its inherent benefits and drawbacks should be considered in general and specific terms.

·  Cushion: Whatever a deadline is given by the boss, one that precedes it should be set as a matter of practice. It will be imprudent to presume that the deadline will be extended. Setting own deadline will provide cushion time in the eventuality of amendments and alterations being introduced later on.

·  Evaluation: If there is any pre-assignment action required to be initiated, the same should be discerned precisely. For that, the instructions should be perused in detail and evaluated for any outside support, including the persons who need to be contacted. This will ensure that the project takes off in time.

·  Preparation: It should be made certain that all items being made use of are in a serviceable state. Advance planning for items of stationery, transport and other equipment is inescapable.

Deadlines puts pressure on you and to that extent could be regarded as a negative inspiration. Still, they are better than no inspiration at all; in fact, they serve as the ultimate inspiration. Deadlines refine the mind. They remove variables like exotic materials and processes that take too long. Remember that the closer the deadline, the more likely you will start thinking outside the box.