How Get People to Respect Your Deadline at Work - The Muse

How Get People to Respect Your Deadline at Work - The MuseHow Get People to Respect Your Deadline at WorkThere are plenty of frustrations that crop up during your workday. An overflowing inbox, a to-do list thats a mile long, or that co-worker who insists on having phone conversations at a decibel level that can only be described as alarming.Another annoyance thats sure to inspire you to clench your jaw and let out an irritated groan? Being stuck in limbo because youre waiting on a necessary response from somebody else.Whether youre anxiously anticipating your boss approval on your report outline or you need an important piece from one of your colleagues in order to wrap up your major project, youre sitting at a standstill- you simply cant move forward until you get your greedy paws on exactly what you need.The worst part? Nobody seems to share your saatkorn sense of urgency- and your deadline is quickly creeping up.I find myself in this exact situation all the time, so I know just h ow annoying and challenging it can be to just sit idly by while you continue to cross days off your calendar. Fortunately, Ive identified a few strategies (no, they dont involve sending aggressive follow-up emails every hour) that are helpful in getting other people to jump on your bandwagon and get you what you need- when you need it.1. Make Your Deadline Painfully ObviousYou cant expect people to honor your deadline if they have absolutely no idea when it is. And, its up to you to make your timeline explicitly clear- as soon as possible.Typically, I include an end date in the very first message I send about a project. Whether Im emailing an editor, a colleague, or a source for an article, I wrap up by explaining when I need that request fulfilled- sometimes Im extra courageous and even go so far as to put it in bold font. That way, I can rest assured that were both operating with the same agenda in mind right from the very start. No, people still dont care about my deadline as muc h as I do (and, why should they?). However, knowing exactly when I need things by at least helps them to respect that cutoff a little more. 2. Dont Be Self-CenteredHeres a fact thats sad, but true We can all be pretty selfish. Sure, you lend a helping hand every now and then out of the goodness of your heart. But, a lot of times human nature takes over and we approach each project or task with a Whats in it for me? sort of attitude.Chances are, that part youre waiting on feels this same way. He knows when you need this by, but why should he care? Why should this be bumped to the top of his own to-do list?Because its the polite and right thing to do youre thinking now. But, when the pressure of the workday is pushing down on you, how often do you think about how you could make someone elses day easier? Not very often- youre just trying to keep your head above water yourself.This is why its important for you to illustrate the value this opportunity provides for that other person. Will his involvement in this big presentation boost his professional reputation and impress his boss, for example?Regardless of the specific outcomes, find a way to stray away from that, Me, me, me approach and instead let that person know what he or she is getting out of the deal.3. Follow Up ProactivelyYou dont want to seem obnoxiously pushy and send an overwhelming amount of follow-up emails. So, instead, you let your deadline slide by- as you think that provides the needed justification for popping back into that persons inbox with a not-so-gentle reminder.But, heres the thing Checking in after your deadline with an urgent and stressed out, Ah, I needed this yesterday message isnt helpful to anybody. Now youre behind schedule and youve passed that urgent hot potato onto somebody elses plate- meaning he or she is probably going to be pretty annoyed.Its always better to be proactive with your deadlines and your related follow-ups. Maybe you need to check in on progredienz a couple of days or even weeks before your end date arrives, depending on the scope of your request. Either way, make sure you take the reins and proactively touch base (politely, of course) with whats needed. Staying top of mind is always helpful. 4. Detail Next StepsLike it or not, some people will just continue to disregard your requests and treat your deadline like a suggestion. Its irritating, but it happens.If youre getting down to the wire and still waiting on what you need, make sure you include your next steps in one of your follow-up messages. What will you do if you ultimately dont get what you need? Will you pull in another person? Skip that portion of the presentation with a quick remark about not getting the information that was required? Move forward with what you have?Sometimes all it takes are a few details about how youll handle the situation if your worst-case scenario comes to fruition. Thats usually enough to give that person a much-needed kick in the pants. Im someone who spends about half of her day chasing people down. So, believe me when I tell you that I know just how frustrating it can be when youre stuck at a standstill waiting on somebody who doesnt appear to be in any hurry.Theres no quick mind trick thatll allow you to train people to answer your requests with no delays (hey, can we get workin on that, science?). However, there are a few tricks you can use to better set yourself up for success. Give these four a try, and youre that much more likely to get your hands on what you need- when you need it.