For those who work in deadline driven environments, we are constantly trying to outpace our deadlines. There are so many factors that can impact our ability to complete high quality deliverables on time, within budget and meeting specific standards. Contrary to the Rolling Stones, time is not always on our side. So, what do we do when we don’t have the luxury of time and struggle to beat the clock?
- Phone a friend – is there an ally or resource who can support you in completing the work? Also, this person can help with final copy editing and preparation of materials.
- Checklist – have you prepared a list of all the items that you need to complete and whether you have access to the materials or need to gather them from other resources?
- Reuse and recycle – do you have materials that you can leverage from other documents that have been prepared? There is no need to reinvent the wheel if you have clean content.
- Version control – use a document sharing system to ensure you have access to the latest materials so there are no issues when completing the final version.
While this may not help you for this particular effort, make sure you include a reminder when planning for upcoming fiscal year activities. It may save you time in the future. Best of luck in trying to beat the clock!
