Why is deadline important?
Deadlines for setting expectations
When a job or project is given a deadline, it means that it is expected to be completed by that time. Deadlines set clear expectations about what is expected to be achieved and when results will be received. This helps employees control their work effectively, avoiding confusion.
Deadlines promote completion
One of the other important functions of deadlines is to give employees a sense of urgency. Without knowing when to get work done, they won't know when to do what.
And when there is nothing urgent, the staff will put everything aside. They will delay. Without a sense of urgency, no goal can be achieved. In fact, a goal without a deadline is not a goal at all. It is merely a wish.
Deadlines make work flow smoother
If deadlines are set for tasks, it will be easier for your team to stay organized. They are more likely to prioritize tasks with deadlines earlier and complete tasks with deadlines later. In other words, deadlines are a great organizational tool.
“Deadlines show discipline and if urgent, getting things done on time is a must rather than an option.”
How do employees always respect deadlines?
Failure to complete work on time can lead to serious consequences. On a personal level, it hurts your reputation and career prospects, especially if it happens more than once. Further down the line, missing deadlines affects the company's reputation and can have serious financial implications if the delay violates the terms of the contract.
If you're concerned that employees are missing deadlines, you need to use strategies to motivate them to take action in the first place.
Set deadlines and communicate clearly
The first step is to set a deadline that employees not only understand, but are involved in setting. This means that when giving a task, always ask the employee, “How long do you think it will take to complete this?”. This approach gives employees a chance to think about what needs to be done and the right time to do it.
By participating in deciding when the task can be completed, employees will be more responsible for the success or failure of the work, more concerned with the final quality rather than rushing to do the work. finished. Of course, this also avoids giving unrealistic deadlines.
Ensuring that deadlines are met is one of the biggest challenges for managers, largely because while you can support your team in a hundred ways, you can't do the employee's job. employees and don't have time to sit around all day watching people make sure they get the job done on time.
Explain why deadlines are important
Explain the negative consequences and impact on the entire project and team if deadlines are not met. In most cases, this “fear” is a powerful motivator. Be careful, however, as too many threats can lead to low morale. Make sure you only emphasize real negative outcomes and don't unnecessarily intimidate employees.
Follow and support
One mistake many managers make is not following up with employees after setting deadlines. Managers are responsible for checking employees. The aim is not to micromanage but to ensure that they have the necessary resources and to help identify constraints preventing them from completing tasks on time.
Often, an employee's ability to accomplish goals or tasks will depend on other colleagues or departments. For example, an employee has a duty to make a report on the cost of a supply, but the accounting department does not provide them with the necessary information. This may affect the ability to complete the task before the required deadline.
So be the one to support your employees who have to deal with hurdles that only a manager can navigate.
Avoid frequent changes
It's great that you get new improvements and solutions. However, frequently changing requirements will lead to delays, as even a small task can take a long time to execute, even leading to a change in the entire previous task. Therefore, it is necessary to consider carefully when deciding to change because an idea suddenly arises.
Encourage and encourage
The more complex the task, the more time it takes to complete. In the beginning, the team can be full of enthusiasm, but over time that momentum tends to decrease in many ways. This is where encouragement is needed to maintain the excitement, thereby completing the deadline. Sometimes a "Good job" compliment helps employees feel like they're investing their time and energy in something of value.
Manage by example
It is a fact that managers are always the creators of inspiration. If they miss a deadline or aren't responsible for being late, employees will notice and be more likely to act the same. So, before expecting your team to get the job done on time, make sure you're respecting them by always meeting the deadlines.
Replies to This Discussion