Arbitrary Deadlines - Part 1

One of the worst things about being an associate was the arbitrary and unreasonable deadlines.

And I’m not talking about the ones partners would set. (More on those tomorrow).

I’m talking about the ones you set for yourself. The ones you people please your way into.

Where you had some control over what the turnaround was...

And a promise popped out of your mouth to turn it around by the end of the day, or first thing in the morning, or by the end of the week. 

When you knew good and well that you already had way too much on your plate.

A promise that meant you were going to have to bill a 13-hour day or stay up all night or scrap your dinner or weekend plans (the first ones you’ve had in months).

Or a promise that meant you were inevitably going to disappoint some other person who you also owed work to.

Or a promise that wasn’t a promise at all because there’s no way you were going to get the thing done when you said you would.

Or a promise that meant you were going to give everyone less than stellar work product.

In the effort to please everyone, you please no one. (Including yourself. And you are worth pleasing.)

And not because you are less than stellar. In fact, you’re probably a really stellar associate.

But when you people please like this you aren’t showing up that way.

What you’re doing isn’t showing them how good you are. It isn’t making them like you. It isn’t making you their first choice associate. It isn’t helping you do your best work. It’s making you seem unreliable and untrustworthy. 

When I know you are the EXACT OPPOSITE OF THOSE THINGS.

And it’s keeping you far more stressed out than you have to be.

I also know it’s uncomfortable for you to do anything different. Or maybe you don’t even know how.

Setting realistic deadlines is a skill that can be learned.

So is the ability to communicate them to the people more senior to you.

So is the ability to say “no” or “not right now” when all you want to do is be the best, hardest working associate (and your brain tells you that the best don’t say “no” or “not right now”).

So is walking it back when you’ve overpromised in a way that puts you in a good light..

Being willing to do all of that, despite the discomfort and strong urge to do otherwise, is also a skill that you can learn. It requires you to have the ability to navigate your emotions in a new way.

If you want…

People to see how good you are at this job.

To show people they can trust you.

To be the best associate you can be.

And to create a sustainable career.

I can help. Send me an email (jenn@jenndealcoaching.com) or sign up for a free consult with me at jenndealcoaching.as.me/consult. Let’s chat about how to get you showing up like the rockstar you are.

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