There’s nothing more infuriating (not to mention unprofessional) than, “Oops, I missed today’s deadline. For instance, you might learn that Jane needs to sign off on work before it comes to you but she’s often not available or doesn’t move quickly enough, or that another department often delays the process. For example, note the reduced quality and cost of … Ensure that you meet the extended deadline. Adrian was The Muse’s first employee and Editor-in-Chief who built the Muse content team from the ground up. What to Do When Your Team is Missing Deadlines 1. Problem #3: Not Enough Wiggle Room. Keep in mind that “It would be great to get this back by Tuesday” doesn’t actually convey “I need this back by Tuesday.”, The fix: Always give a clear deadline when you first assign the work. Start out by simply naming the problem and asking for the staff person’s perspective: “You’ve been missing deadlines lately. That said, you can do yourself a serious favor if you…. Open menu. But a good rule of thumb is to succinctly explain why things aren’t going according to plan, without blaming anyone or going on and on about your sick dog, broken computer, or mounting to-do list. Sit down with the staff member and ask what’s going on, and listen with an open mind. 2. Your best approach is to talk about a specific situation where you missed a deadline due to unforeseen or unplanned circumstances, yet take personal responsibility for the shortcoming and talk about what you are doing to keep it from happening again in the future. The first step is setting clear expectations that the employee not only understands but is involved in establishing the deadline. A … It can be tempting to avoid the question entirely and say that you have always submitted assignments on time. Present or deliver the portion of work that is already completed. Sometimes workers are simply in a position that is not suitable for them. Apologize for not meeting the deadline. 1. Adjust your mindset. Problem #3: Not Enough Wiggle Room. Listen to the following scenario… John, a project coordinator, was called into the office of his supervisor Anne. If you’re really putting someone in a tough place by missing a deadline, think about what you could offer that would make up for the inconvenience. Consistently meeting deadlines is a cornerstone of a successful small business’s reputation. You are not meeting the deadlines and this is not the first time that you are going beyond the deadlines. If you're telling your boss you can't meet a deadline that is essential to the company's bottom line, it may not bode well for you. Here are some ideas to consider: Be assertive. If the latter, have them implement a system for tracking work and deadlines – and hold them to it. The files for the project were corrupted, and we needed to wait for an associate to supply the backup files. Use the time in the meeting to set expectations about deliverables on both sides. CONSEQUENCES OF NOT MEETING THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE The deadline to submit your online SAT is 11.59 pm (EST), January 31, of each year. When my always-reliable writer asks for a one-time extension, I’m more than happy to rearrange things. Sometimes in your efforts to please a customer or a boss you may be tempted to accept a deadline that you know you cannot meet — even if you work 24 hours per day. Of course, not all deadlines are created equal—a client deliverable set in stone in a contract is a little different than a progress report you mentioned you’d get to your co-worker “sometime next week”—and a different level of explanation will be required for each. The interviewer wants to find out if you are able to meet deadlines or not. Information submitted on this site is subject to the privacy policy. 1. 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