Leaders often say yes to impossible deadlines for approval, then miss them and damage trust. Instead, treat deadline-setting as a conversation: ask what resources you need, what else can wait, or what can be delegated. Stay constructive while pushing back.
You nodded, you said, "Yep, no problem, boss, we'll get this done." But deep down, it is a problem. Now you're firefighting, and your team are going to be firefighting once again. Here's a truth that most leaders ignore or innocently overlook on some occasions. When a team member says yes to win approval now, or at least avoid disapproval now, often this can lead to them having to say sorry later. Further down the line when commitments aren't kept and deadlines are missed. Trust me, this latter version of events is what to avoid. From now, I invite you to flip the script. When you're faced with an imposed deadline, say something such as, "I want to make this happen and get it done right first time. Let's agree a realistic timescale we can both stand behind." See that word? Agree. Deadlines shouldn't be dictated. They shouldn't be imposed. They should be discussed. That's leadership, that's partnership. And if your boss or client pushes back, what do you do? Stand your ground, but not by saying, "You can have it now, it'll be terrible, or you can wait." No. What it's important to do is say, "It's important for me that I deliver this right first time on time. And with these other timescales that are in place, with these other priorities you're trusting me to deliver, I think something deserves to change. Something can be delegated, something can be postponed, something can be rescheduled, whatever it may be." If you use the words, I'd be doing you a disservice, or I wouldn't be being honest with you if I said yes to this timescale, knowing full well with the current resources, with the current priorities and project schedule, it can't be done. Can we have a chat? It's very rare that after that kind of dialogue, someone will say, no, I don't want to chat. I just want it doing. Bear in mind, your stakeholder, your boss may have their own priorities and people to satisfy. So it's important to initiate a conversation, then wait, and then respond with ability. Give this a go. 2 or 3 times and see how you progress.
Emotional Intelligence Training for Managers | The Hidden Cost of Low Self Awareness
