How can you set realistic deadlines for your team?

1 Define the scope and objectives

The first step to setting realistic deadlines is to clearly define the scope and objectives of the project. What are you trying to achieve, and what are the deliverables and expectations of the client? How does the project align with your business goals and strategy? What are the assumptions and constraints that you have to consider? By answering these questions, you will have a better understanding of the project's requirements, priorities, and boundaries, and you will be able to communicate them effectively to your team and your client.

3 Add buffers and contingencies

Once you have estimated the effort and time for each task, you need to add some buffers and contingencies to your deadlines. Buffers are extra time that you allocate to each task to account for unexpected delays, errors, revisions, or changes in scope. Contingencies are extra time that you reserve for the whole project to deal with risks, issues, or emergencies that may arise. The amount of buffers and contingencies that you add depends on the complexity, uncertainty, and importance of the project, as well as your team's confidence and performance. A general rule of thumb is to add 10-20% of the total time as buffers and contingencies.

4 Review and validate the deadlines

The final step is to review and validate the deadlines that you have set for your team. You should check if the deadlines are realistic, achievable, and aligned with the project's scope and objectives. You should also consult with your team and your client to get their feedback and approval on the deadlines, and to make sure that they understand and agree with the expectations and responsibilities. By reviewing and validating the deadlines, you will increase the chances of meeting them, and you will avoid misunderstandings, conflicts, or disappointments.

Setting realistic deadlines for your team is not an exact science, but a skill that you can improve with practice and experience. By following these tips, you will be able to set realistic deadlines for your team that will help you to deliver quality work, satisfy your clients, and avoid unnecessary stress.

5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?