How do you ensure stakeholders are satisfied with your work when facing a deadline?
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When you work on a social impact project, you often have to juggle multiple expectations and deadlines from different stakeholders, such as funders, partners, beneficiaries, and the public. How can you ensure that your work meets their needs and standards, while also staying on track and avoiding burnout? Here are some tips to help you manage deadlines and deliver quality results that satisfy your stakeholders.
One of the key factors for successful deadline management is effective communication. You need to keep your stakeholders informed of your progress, challenges, and achievements throughout the project. This way, you can build trust, avoid misunderstandings, and get feedback and support when needed. You should also communicate your expectations and boundaries, such as your availability, scope of work, and deliverables. Use clear and concise language, and choose the appropriate channels and frequency for your communication.
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Tehmina A Chaudhry
Founder President at Canada Startup Association | Startup Consultant | Social Entrepreneur | Angel Investor | Advocate for Women in Business
Communication is the key here. As long as stakeholders are communicated to what is happening assuring that the focus is intact on deliverables, stakeholders accept even if there are some delays. Quality of deliverables should remain be the aim!
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Thalya Olmos MBA
Founder Elite Nannies On Call. Rated Best Miami Nanny Agency by CBS4News. Special Needs/ Autism Division
One thing I have found helpful is quality assurance checks. Maintaining high-quality work is non-negotiable. Implement these practices: Conduct thorough reviews and checks before submission Ensure all work meets or exceeds agreed-upon standards Address any quality concerns promptly and thoroughly
Another essential skill for managing deadlines is prioritization. You need to identify the most important and urgent tasks, and allocate your time and resources accordingly. You should also plan ahead and break down your project into manageable milestones and subtasks, with realistic deadlines and contingencies. Use tools such as calendars, to-do lists, and project management software to keep track of your tasks and deadlines, and update them regularly. You should also review your plan periodically and adjust it as needed, based on your progress and feedback.
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Muhammad Ehtesham Khan
Using Animations for Businesses and Kids Education | Cofounder @ Brinysoft & Brinytoons | Project Manager | Edtech Startup | Animation
The key to ensuring stakeholder satisfaction when facing a deadline is proactive communication, effective risk management, and a commitment to delivering value, even if adjustments are needed to meet the project's goals.
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Gregorio Punzano
Founder and CEO at Koryntia
Effective deadline management hinges on prioritization and meticulous planning. Identify key tasks, allocate resources wisely, and break down projects into manageable milestones with realistic deadlines. Utilize tools like calendars and project management software, regularly updating them. Periodically review and adapt the plan based on progress and feedback for streamlined and successful project completion.
Working on a social impact project can be challenging and complex, and you may not be able to do everything on your own. That's why you need to collaborate and delegate effectively. You should leverage the strengths and expertise of your team members, partners, and other stakeholders, and assign them clear roles and responsibilities. You should also communicate your expectations and deadlines, and provide them with the necessary support and guidance. You should also acknowledge their contributions and celebrate their achievements.
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Puneet Singh Singhal
Collaboration and delegation are essential components of managing social impact projects successfully. Here’s a framework to guide you through this process: Identify Skills and Strengths: Assess the capabilities of your team members and partners. Identify who excels in what areas and align tasks with their strengths. Define Roles and Responsibilities: Clearly outline what is expected from each team member. Ensure everyone understands their role in the project's success. Set Clear Objectives: Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for all parties involved.
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Gregorio Punzano
Founder and CEO at Koryntia
In tackling a social impact project, effective collaboration and delegation are imperative. Leverage the strengths of your team, partners, and stakeholders by assigning clear roles and responsibilities. Communicate expectations and deadlines while offering necessary support and guidance. Acknowledge contributions and celebrate achievements to foster a collaborative and motivated environment.
When you face a tight deadline, you may be tempted to compromise on the quality of your work, or to rush through it without checking for errors or inconsistencies. However, this can harm your reputation and credibility, and undermine the impact of your project. Therefore, you need to balance quality and speed, and ensure that your work meets the standards and requirements of your stakeholders. You should also check your work for accuracy, clarity, and relevance, and ask for feedback and revisions if needed.
Finally, you need to take care of yourself and your well-being, especially when you face stressful deadlines. You should avoid overcommitting or procrastinating, and set realistic and attainable goals. You should also practice self-care, such as getting enough sleep, eating well, exercising, and taking breaks. You should also seek support from your colleagues, friends, or family, or seek professional help if necessary. Remember that your health and happiness are important for your productivity and performance, as well as for your social impact.
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Comfort Daniel
Psychology + Social Impact + Education| People Management| LinkedIn Top Voice
A healthy body is a productive one. When tackling deadlines, it's essential to acknowledge the stress that often accompanies them. Prioritizing your health is crucial. Self-care in such situations might involve taking a day off to recharge, maintaining a nutritious diet, ensuring adequate sleep, and possibly delegating or outsourcing tasks to manage your workload more efficiently and meet the deadline successfully.
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Shubha Murthi
Certified Executive Coach, Consultant, Entrepreneur and certified EQi Coach
Communication is no doubt key, as already shared by quite a few. One other thing I have experienced is - agree only to what can be delivered. Over promising and under delivery leads to a lot of unpleasantness as well as leads to trust issues for future projects.
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