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DEADLINES HELP GAIN FOCUS

Deadlines - everyone has to meet them at some point. For most of us, deadlines are a big part of our job. Panic Friday's and manic Monday's can sometimes feel like an unending cycle. But it's hard to imagine a job where it doesn't matter what you do and when you get it done. That doesn't mean that deadline' is a dirty word.

Actually, deadlines are a positive way to manage multiple priorities and tasks simultaneously. They help you to determine structure and focus for your work, thereby optimizing your available time and increasing your value to your company or your own business.

PRIORITIZE. A key to managing and meeting deadlines is to effectively prioritize your work, ensuring that the most critical projects are given ample time for successful organization and completion. Using the method of prioritizing allows you to visualize the time you have available in your week to meet your obligations. Prioritize based on the project that results in the greatest value and highest return for your business.

TIME MANAGEMENT. Once you establish priorities, estimate the amount of time it will take to complete each tasks. Evaluate components or projects which can be delegated or shared with other associates and solicit their support. Allow for the "unexpected" which can always be expected in the world of business! A last minute request from a key client for a critical deliverable doesn't have to jeopardize your entire plan it just means you need to re-prioritize and evaluate resources available to manage the work.

PROJECT PLANNING. Creating a timeline and assigning key steps necessary for each project will get you started on the road to success. Consider your schedule and timeline like you would a term paper for school. Remember how your teacher always had certain parts of the paper which were due at varying points of the semester. These are your key milestones and deliverables in the business world and staging your work in this manner will increase your efficiency exponentially.

If one of your key milestones is missed, you have an opportunity to make it up before the next milestone is due. This may require additional work and time but this "sprint" will be pay off in the end by getting you back on-track.

NEGOTIATION. Negotiating deadlines and establishing revised dates is a strategy which can be deployed with discretion. Using this method too often results in lack of confidence in your ability to manage deadlines, however, an occasional negotiation on deadlines is acceptable in most companies. Remember that it is better to negotiate a deadline which will most likely be missed than to actually miss the deadline!

Take undisturbed time each morning to review where you are in the process with each of your deliverables. Revise schedules and priorities based on the results of your review. Use this time of review and reflection to determine how to meet your deadlines and how to better manage your time going forward.

Utilizing this method of organization and planning will help avoid the panic Friday and manic Monday. You will most likely find that you actually have more "free time" because you have better utilized your time and resources. Time management is a key to a successful life in businesss which adds value in your personal life too!

When you hear the word "deadline", consider it a gift. You know what you need to do and when you need to get it done. Now all you have to do is get started!

Learn more about this author, Rhonda Day.
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