How To Keep Deadlines Every Time

Let this simple deadline tip keep you on track

I pride myself on never missing a deadline. Lots of people – both writers and clients – ask me how I do it. Let me tell you a story that showed me what to do.

Several years ago I was working as the editor of a monthly magazine. The editorial staff consisted of me, a sub editor and two writers, as well as the managing editor, who didn’t do much writing. Three of us were great with deadlines, but one of the writers was not. We had regular deadlines set in advance and he seemed unable to keep up with them, putting the rest of the schedule in jeopardy. I decided that when I was setting the deadlines for the following year, I would take things in hand.

Our deadlines were set based on the cover date and our printing slot, but that didn’t mean they were carved in stone. I moved every deadline on our printed editorial calendar back two days so that even if things were late there would be no need to panic. I also gave this particular writer his own – even earlier – deadline. That meant that even when he was late I would still receive work by the time I really wanted it.

That lesson has stayed with me, and it’s the secret of my deadline success. I ask my clients when they need a piece of work, but in my calendar I put a date one or two days before that. I also put a note of when I need to start work on the job in my to-do list. The upshot of that is that all my work is delivered on time.

But what about special circumstances such as illness or accidents, I hear you ask. These things happen and there have been a few occasions when I realise that I will find it difficult to make the deadline. In those cases I either outsource to a trusted colleague so I can meet the original deadline, or contact the client and renegotiate the deadline. I haven’t had to do this many times, so clients are understanding when I do. And renegotiating a deadline isn’t the same as missing it, is it?

(Photo: ciro@tokyo)

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