Deadlines - it’s a word that strikes fear into the heart of many. Not only are they stressful in themselves, but they are also surprisingly hard to meet. 

In many businesses, deadlines are like periodic challenges. Your boss will waltz into your office, put a pile of papers on your desk and tell you that you have until tomorrow morning to sort them all out.

But they are also necessary. Without them, projects run on and on, and businesses fail to serve their customers adequately. 

So why are you always missing your deadlines? Here are some ideas. 

You Believe In Multitasking

Multitasking is having its moment right now. We love the idea of being able to do multiple things at once. But when we consider our personal ability to do two things at once honestly, we soon discover that it’s impossible. You can’t write an email and talk on the phone at the same time without one or the other suffering. 

Researchers are increasingly issuing warning bells with regards to multitasking. They say that it slows people down and makes them more prone to error. A better approach is to block time in your schedule for specific tasks. Whenever you do something, give it 100 percent of your attention. 

You’re Distracted

Distractions are another big reason people miss deadlines. Trying to complete a project while browsing social media or chatting on Slack just isn’t possible. You wind up wasting so much precious time that you could use working. 

Even something as simple as a lack of office cleaning can cause you to fall behind. Research shows that clutter in workspaces reduces employee productivity. 

If you’re struggling, use custom notifications apps. This way, you can prevent your phone from buzzing every time a news story comes along or someone emails you. Instead, you only get notifications if it is something that you specify as urgent. 

If mess is a problem, then clear your desk and ask about your company’s office cleanliness policy. If there isn’t one in place already, ask for one. 

You Aren’t Mapping Out The Steps To Get There

Completing a task before a deadline usually requires mapping out a series of steps that describe how you’re going to get there. You need to be able to plot a predictable course that runs from where you are now to where you want to be. If you're not doing this, you’ll feel overwhelmed. 

Try breaking down projects into their basic components. Then address each task individually. You’ll soon find that meeting the deadline doesn’t seem so challenging. 

You Aren’t Communicating With People Properly

Good teamwork is an essential part of any business, but it is particularly important when you want to meet a deadline. If you aren’t communicating with your team properly, you may get your wires crossed and be unable to deliver the project requirements on time. 

Start communicating clearly and concisely with team members from the start. Get everyone on the same page. If you can, use shared cloud-based project management software that provides status updates. 

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