Deadlines are often such a mess because managers are buffoons

Tight deadlines are a very common thing (concept?) in business. We’ll address the ‘why’ of that statement in a few moments, but almost regardless of job/role, you’ve probably experienced some tight deadlines. Oftentimes this causes people to shriek, run away, and hide under their desk. (The other reaction is to tell everyone how busy they are constantly.) In short, we all have a fraught relationship with deadlines, and especially tight deadlines. But why is this? And what can we do to make it better?

Tight deadlines: A few initial points

First off, tight deadlines are not necessarily bad things. Most companies are very bad at priority management, and tight deadlines can drive people towards achieving the right things at the right times. (This doesn’t often happen, but it could!) There’s a documented dark side to tight deadlines, too: they can wreak havoc on your health. There’s also a much broader, more philosophical discussion here about ‘moving fast vs. moving smart.’ Some companies, and their senior leaders, think it’s all about first-mover advantage and hitting targets ASAP. Others think it’s about smart plays. It kinda varies by who you work for. Deadlines, and the potential for procrastination, play into that. The final point to consider before we dive deeper? Maximizers vs…