Instructions: what to do if you do not have time for the deadline

    You are in a panic. Until the deadline, a few days / hours, or maybe less. In your head, you already compose an exculpatory story, imagine the face of an angry boss or team leader, and then look at the cost of tickets to Irkutsk. Do not do like this.



    Instead of wasting time on hysteria: drink valerian (only to calm trembling hands) and send a letter that will explain the situation to the management.

    // What should be in it:


    1. Take responsibility


    No one was killed for the failure of the deadline. For your leadership, your letter of appreciation means that you understood where you were mistaken, confessed the mistake to yourself and others, you do not give a damn and you can prevent disruptions in the future. If you make excuses, you will be considered an irresponsible employee (it will be so).

    2. Set new dates


    Report on the dates for which you really have time to prepare everything. (You don’t want to send such a letter again ?!). Take more time than you plan to spend on work. Then you will definitely send a fully finished and final version.

    3. Promise not to make mistakes again.


    Everyone makes mistakes, and you are no exception. And if this happens to you for the first time (and we hope that this is so), they will understand you. But still, you must convince the others that you have made conclusions and no longer delay the deadlines.

    // Now connect everything


    Your letter should look like this:

    So, you have found the strength to admit defeat and report it. Your leader may be in shock / trance / rage, or he may laugh and say that nothing bad happened. Remember that you must be prepared for any answer (what would you say in its place?).

    Such a “confession” will only work if it is really your first failure (is that so, right?). Try to plan your work: get a notepad, make a plan, write a list of tasks. Then you don’t have to make excuses!

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