Business deadlines are a time or day before which you must do something.

Business deadlines can be an arbitrary self-imposed period – I want to finish before the summer holidays or a mandated date, such as the end of the financial year.

We all set business deadlines or have them imposed on us. When you open your Google calendar or diary, one or more stares back at you. Immediately it elicits an involuntary emotional response. You may feel frustration or guilt if you’re behind schedule or unlikely to complete it.

Or you may be relieved and even excited that you’re on track to finish it.

Deadlines can be friends or foes, depending on your approach and acceptance of their importance. Now may be the time to rethink your attitude to deadlines and how they shape the priorities and workload in your business.

Goal-oriented team members thrive on due dates and timelines and are motivated to achieve tasks within set boundaries. Such people proactively set milestones and diligently meet timeframes. Deadlines are a positive reinforcement tool that helps achieve goals.

Procrastinators despise deadlines. They scramble under stress at the last minute to make things happen. Sometimes they thrive. Other times, they fail to make the cut.

The deadline non-believers avoid completion dates. They will want to negotiate end dates as if their time is more important than others. Often this ends poorly for all involved.

Perfectionists who only accept excellence as their standard consistently miss deadlines. Any sense of commercial reality is long forgotten in their quest for perfection.

Personal or team attitudes determine success or failure in attaining agreed dates or timelines.

If achieving business deadlines is challenging for you or other team members and you want to improve, focus on a more flexible and adaptable approach.
Unforeseen circumstances erase time, making deadlines obsolete. As a business owner, you must be aware of such possibilities or events and adjust accordingly. Don’t wait; hoping to catch up. It rarely happens. Be proactive and open lines of communication with everyone impacted, especially your clients. Renegotiate timelines as required. You’ll be surprised how forgiving people are when you’re open, honest and give them time to reconsider.

Business deadlines can be friends and foes, depending on the information you receive from those involved and your ability to manage the process.