You know it will happen, if it hasn’t already! That project you are working on has suddenly been brought forward and the deadline is now imminent. How could they do it to me, you ask! They are guaranteeing a lower quality result, if they insist on that deadline!

So what can you do?

Firstly, take the initiative. You must recognise what the result might be if this decision can’t be changed. Then you can ask something like, “Would you approve the steps I have to take to meet that delivery deadline?”

Expect a question like, “What do you mean?” You can then state that something will have to give in order to achieve that deadline. It could be the level of quality won’t be as high, or there will be reduced quantities produced, or the presentation won’t be as formal as it could be.

Get advanced recognition of these results. You might need more resources to achieve the goal. If so, state what you need to achieve it.

If you still get a firm “no”, be certain that the problems you encounter on the way are recognised, but don’t complain about the conditions you faced. It makes no sense to make an issue of something you can’t influence after the event.

You can, though, reflect on what caused the deadline to be moved and find out what you could do to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Also, ask yourself some searching questions;

Did you leave starting the project too late in the first place, thinking you had ample time to complete it?

Did you ask too much of yourself and tried to achieve perfection with the project?

Whatever the outcome, find out what you can learn from the experience, and spend some time with your boss after the project is completed to discuss the implications and create a proactive plan to make sure, if it happens again, what standards your boss is looking for. That way, you reduce the risk of being caught out next time.

Thanks again

Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Management Course

Click below for a:
FREE email course “Improve Your Management Skills”

Balancing quality and efficiency isn’t easy these days. Demands from customers and bosses have never been greater and sometimes you feel like throwing your hands in the air and saying “No way!” (or words to that effect!)

What can you do if you know that meeting a specific deadline will result in poor quality or corners being cut?

It might help if you asked the stakeholder “Will you approve the steps needed to meet that delivery date?”

They will probably ask for clarification. This will then allow you to make the point you wanted to make. “Your deadline will not allow me/us/the company to achieve the level of quality you would insist on”.

If they ask what steps you would suggest, tell them that a shorter deadline would force you to deliver reduced quality or quantity, less precision or less formality. Get the stakeholder to recognise these results in advance. Then tell them what will have to happen in order to alleviate these outcomes, like more or better resources or a changed time limit.

If no change can be made, make a note of what happens along the journey, not with a view to casting blame for the poor quality of the job, but to help you reflect on how to handle similar situations in the future.

Also, highlight why this seems to be happening more and more. Is your time management poor, or do you need some project management coaching? Analyse what you can control and what is outside your control before casting blame or criticism in another’s direction.

You may be able to negotiate the deadline in some way. And note that we said ‘negotiate’, not ‘concede’. You have to have something of value that you can offer the other party in order for them to accept the deadline movement. You’re the only person who will be able to answer that in detail, but think about how the change in deadline might affect quality or performance or results.

Commit to achieving those results, and the stakeholder will realise that, if you are supported, the extra time given was worth the wait.

So, learn to determine what can be done, rather than what can’t, and that will help you to ascertain the direction you need to go. Rather than saying “there’s no way”, you may end up saying “there is a way…I just have to find it!”

Thanks again,
Sean

Sean McPheat
Managing Director
MTD Manager Training

Click below for a:
Free email course “Improve your Management Skills”