Mid Week Gyan - Why are Deadlines Important !

Having a deadline or meeting them can be effective way to make sure your all tasks or jobs are completed on time. Regardless of the nature, deadlines can give directions towards effective work completion. Deadlines are bane of many people's working lives, and a source of relentless and worrying pressure. But they're important for almost any task and any role, and they're essential for the smooth running of the Organisation and any Department in the Organisation. A task without a deadline is Arjuna without Krishna in a Battle, with all the capabilities and skills but without any direction. And we all know if Krishna would not have provided the direction, Pandavas would not have been able to win the great battle of Mahabharat.

Being able to meet the deadline is important, but it takes Discipline and Determination to be able to do so. Here we will try and understand - Why Deadlines Matter and How one can Manage Deadlines.

Why Deadlines Matter?

Typically, we set deadlines for one of the following reasons -

1. It helps us in prioritising our tasks. - Setting a deadline is an effective way to prioritise our work based on its importance. It helps you not to become overly perfectionist where you are dedicating more time for unimportant tasks. Setting a realistic headline can help you achieve a balance between high quality standards and timely delivery.
2. It helps in achieving Goals - If no deadline is set, we may be procasting to complete the task and leading to complete the task longer than it should have. Having a clearly set date motivates you to complete the task on or before time.
3. It encourage a smooth flow of work - Deadlines help to create a more collaborative approach by streamlining the existing workflow. It will also help in becoming more creative to complete the task on time.
4. Helps you in Keeping Commitments - Many of us would have faced a situation wherein we did not keep our commitments - be it Personal or Professional. Either sharing up a file to the Manager or Reaching home on time for your Kid's birthday we all have missed our commitments at some point or the other. With a deadline, we can specifically work on keeping our commitments and plan our actions keeping our reputation intact off being disciplined and committed.
5. Boost the Morale - Nothing can beat the sense of achievement of completing a task on or before time. Just imagine us completing an Exam Paper before time and the sense of achievement we take. Knowing that you're able to set a clear timetable for your outstanding tasks and to actually complete them within schedule can increase your confidence and self-esteem.

In short Deadlines can help you to take control of our work, our goals and our life. In Professional or Personal life, there can also be serious consequences for failing to meet a deadline as it can damage your reputation and harm your career prospects - if it is happening on frequent basis.

How to Manage a Deadline?

There are 2 main areas to focus on when you have to hit a deadline: managing the deadline and managing yourself. There can be high chances where we accept the deadline which is given to us or we overcommit a deadline without understanding the current situation. It's very important to consider before giving a deadline or accepting it.

So, what should you do to manage a deadline?

The most important factor in meeting a deadline is YOU! You should be able to manage yourself first. If you have the right mindset, the self-discipline and are organised, then you will be able to manage any deadlines. Here is something which you can do -

1. Change your mindset - Adopt to a positive attitude towards deadlines, instead of resenting them. Deadlines can help you achieve your goals or KRA that you might otherwise out off.
2. Avoid Procrastinate - When a deadline is being set, avoid procrastination or avoid using excuses of completion of other tasks. Be committed to the deadline.
3. Understand your Boosters - Some people are motivated by the deadlines and some are not. One needs to understand Deadlines can help you in getting acknowledged in the Organisation, more free time to do the things that you enjoy, getting recognition, and many more. So at the end if Acknowledgment or Recognition is your booster, one needs to meet the deadline. If you want to learn something that you enjoy, without completing your task on time you shall not be able to do the same.
4. Make it a Habit - Take baby steps in whatever tasks you do. Set smaller deadlines in your routine work. It will gradually form a habit and will be transferred to bigger ones when they arise. Whenever you assign a task to someone or commit a task to your manager or higher authority, make it a practice to mention the deadline. It will help you to create a sense of ownership to complete the task on time or prioritise accordingly.

Missing a deadline can be extremely damaging at an Organisational Level and will impact Company's reputation and it can have serious financial implications if the same triggers a penalty clause in any contract or to a client. Eventually, it will lead to your performance and reputation in the Organisation. Always Remember - Deadlines that are set become Responsibilities and we tend to follow Responsibilities.

Your own attitude and mindset play crucial roles. Think Positively and make good use of your time.

Meeting deadlines is really a two-way street. Do you and your team regularly meet your deadlines? Where do you fall within the deadline continuum? It could make the difference between a career on the fast track and another on the skids.

Have Wonderful Wednesday !!