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#ProdChat – 07/19/2017 – Working With Deadlines

#ProdChat – 07/19/2017 – Working With Deadlines

On July 19, 2017, #ProdChat discussed the topic, Working With Deadlines. The discussion was hosted by our regular third Wednesday host, productivity coach Natalie M. Houston. Watch the slideshow to see what the productivity enthusiasts on #ProdChat had to say about “Working With Deadlines.” Enjoy!

Questions:

1. How much of your work is deadline-driven? #prodchat

2. Some people thrive on the adrenaline of working up to the deadline. Some people prefer to get things done early. What about you? #prodchat

3. What are your favorite project planning methods for managing deadlines? #prodchat

4. What would you like to improve in how you work with deadlines? #prodchat

5. If you have an important deadline coming up within a week, how do you make sure you meet it? #prodchat

6. How do you plan for project deadlines three or more months away? #prodchat

7. What are your best strategies for working with other people to meet a project deadline? #prodchat

8. What are you favorite tools or apps for making sure you track and meet deadlines? #prodchat

9. What tips from tonight’s chat would you like to implement in the near future? #prodchat

Raw transcript:

User Tweet Time (GMT +0)
nmhouston Welcome to #ProdChat, the weekly chat for productivity enthusiasts! https://t.co/5Vks07ONnO https://t.co/AhDjc1tcNe Thu Jul 20 00:00:26 +0000 2017
nmhouston Today on #ProdChat we’re discussing “Working With Deadlines”! Join us! https://t.co/0akIxm8Ku9 Thu Jul 20 00:00:52 +0000 2017
BLGBusiness @rsidneysmith @drjlwells @nmhouston Multi tasking so might not be able to participate but will keep an eye on the feed! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:00:57 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck Good topic. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:01:20 +0000 2017
nmhouston @BLGBusiness @rsidneysmith @drjlwells hi Brandi, glad you can peek in at least! ;) #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:01:56 +0000 2017
nmhouston @DrFrankBuck hi Frank, how are you tonight? #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:02:14 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck @nmhouston Doing well, Natalie. And yourself? #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:02:51 +0000 2017
nmhouston @DrFrankBuck Doing pretty well, thanks! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:03:15 +0000 2017
nmhouston So, let’s start! Please introduce yourself. Tell us a bit about you and your interest in #productivity! #prodchat https://t.co/ujwu6yeL6n Thu Jul 20 00:03:20 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck Frank Buck from Alabama. I write and speak on organization and time management. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:03:54 +0000 2017
nmhouston I’m Natalie, an English professor & productivity coach. I help people move forward on the projects that matter most to them #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:03:57 +0000 2017
nmhouston What’s a #productivity success you’ve had this week or last? #prodchat https://t.co/kgPnrEw6Wn Thu Jul 20 00:05:45 +0000 2017
PG_pmp @nmhouston Piyush from India…Happy Thursday morning…#productivity! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:07:16 +0000 2017
nmhouston As tonight’s host, I’ll post questions as Q1, Q2. Answer with A1, A2 for readability, and don’t forget to add… https://t.co/SaWNsqLQgY Thu Jul 20 00:07:31 +0000 2017
nmhouston @PG_pmp Welcome, Piyush, glad you could make it to #prodchat! Thu Jul 20 00:08:42 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A #productivity success that I helped with was getting someone’s email inbox from 52,000+ to 2. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:08:59 +0000 2017
nmhouston Q1. How much of your work is deadline-driven? #prodchat https://t.co/qB1RgzuuWf Thu Jul 20 00:09:06 +0000 2017
nmhouston @DrFrankBuck that is impressive!! they must have felt so relieved #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:10:44 +0000 2017
CurationSuite RT @DrFrankBuck: A #productivity success that I helped with was getting someone’s email inbox from 52,000+ to 2. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:10:45 +0000 2017
CurationSuite RT @PG_pmp: @nmhouston Piyush from India…Happy Thursday morning…#productivity! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:10:46 +0000 2017
CurationSuite RT @nmhouston: What’s a #productivity success you’ve had this week or last? #prodchat https://t.co/kgPnrEw6Wn Thu Jul 20 00:10:47 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A1 For me, deadlines are not a large issue. I generally know about deadlines far in advance. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:10:49 +0000 2017
nmhouston A1 About 75-80% of my work involves external deadlines. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:13:17 +0000 2017
PG_pmp @nmhouston A1: it shld be milestone driven not deadline…as there is always a life even after completion..#prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:13:19 +0000 2017
nmhouston Q2 Some people thrive on the adrenaline of working up to the deadline.Some prefer to get things done early. What ab… https://t.co/sa1glqXQd5 Thu Jul 20 00:13:41 +0000 2017
nmhouston A2 I confess to something of a deadline-adrenaline habit. I’ve been working to change that over the years, though! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:16:13 +0000 2017
nmhouston A2 For some people, your relationship to deadlines might be different depending on the type of project or deliverable #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:17:35 +0000 2017
nmhouston A2 For some people, your relationship to deadlines might be different depending on the type of project or deliverable #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:17:35 +0000 2017
nmhouston Q3. What are your favorite project planning methods for managing deadlines? #prodchat https://t.co/YoUYsYJD7I Thu Jul 20 00:18:53 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A2 For some reason, Q2 didn’t come through. I will take a stab at what I think it is. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:19:18 +0000 2017
PG_pmp @nmhouston A2: believe in proactive approach…to complete task before time…however sometime it happens till last moment..#prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:19:33 +0000 2017
nmhouston @DrFrankBuck hmm, that’s weird. Q2 — do you thrive on adrenaline of working up to the deadline, or do you prefer… https://t.co/s2PuknNmJH Thu Jul 20 00:20:43 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A2 Like Jim, I like to jump on things early… but when others are involved, changes to a project result in having to redo if… #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:20:44 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A2… if started early. Finding the balance between too early and last minute is the art. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:21:46 +0000 2017
nmhouston A3 I tend to use reverse calendar methods — start with the end date, and work your way backwards. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:23:19 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A3 On my task list,, I include DEADLINE and a date as part of the task name… #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:23:34 +0000 2017
nmhouston A3 For some projects visual approaches work well for me — Gantt charts, flowcharts, etc #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:24:32 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A3: As part of my weekly planning, I search the list for DEADLINE and see at a glance every deadline in chronological order. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:24:54 +0000 2017
nmhouston @DrFrankBuck for every task associated with the project? #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:24:59 +0000 2017
nmhouston Q4. What would you like to improve in how you work with deadlines? #prodchat https://t.co/eVFwamYIps Thu Jul 20 00:25:05 +0000 2017
PG_pmp @nmhouston A3: always maintain the proactive communication with stakeholders to keep all plans in good shape #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:25:48 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck @nmhouston Generally, they are related to projects. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:25:49 +0000 2017
nmhouston A4 I’ve learned the hard way to negotiate deadlines that will work with existing commitments. Easy to get overloaded! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:26:58 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A4: Handling deadlines is one area where I feel petty good about how things are going. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:27:15 +0000 2017
nmhouston Q5. If you have an important deadline coming up within a week, how do you make sure you meet it? #prodchat https://t.co/ZCCtZhyQYz Thu Jul 20 00:28:57 +0000 2017
prodbookgrp Join us for our next #Productivity Book Group live discussion! https://t.co/n14akGjZH4 #prodchat https://t.co/sswicweHHi Thu Jul 20 00:30:01 +0000 2017
nmhouston A5 A short term deadline brings a lot of clarity and focus — you have to triage your tasks, ensure you’re working on what matters #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:30:42 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A5: I have next steps well – defined so there will is no confusion about what to do to meet the deadline. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:31:31 +0000 2017
nmhouston A5 As the deadline gets closer, I get more detailed in my planning to make sure I don’t leave out any steps #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:32:30 +0000 2017
nmhouston A5 Unfortunately, in a lot of work environments, working late / weekends becomes the default way to meet deadlines #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:34:18 +0000 2017
PG_pmp @nmhouston A5: check status first & reprioritise the tasks if required based on their impact on overall plan #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:34:39 +0000 2017
nmhouston A5 Few people can afford to lose more sleep! So project planning becomes a matter of health as well #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:34:59 +0000 2017
nmhouston Q6. How do you plan for project deadlines three or more months away? #prodchat https://t.co/he2x4YdLZt Thu Jul 20 00:35:04 +0000 2017
nmhouston A6 Some research suggests that most of us don’t have clear concept of time several months in the future. Makes it harder to plan #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:37:12 +0000 2017
PG_pmp @nmhouston A6: it all depends how one plan & define priority based on tasks & plan #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:37:34 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A6: In the very early stages of planning a project, I pinpoint when I want to start and associate that date with the project. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:37:48 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A6: Projects that start on time have a better chance of finishing on time. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:38:36 +0000 2017
nmhouston @JKatzaman hi Jim! this is strange, I see from your timeline you’ve been on the chat, but your tweets aren’t showin… https://t.co/atmEoUQZ3E Thu Jul 20 00:39:42 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A6: I also identify known next steps and associated info which makes getting started easier. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:39:58 +0000 2017
nmhouston @JKatzaman I didn’t mean to be ignoring you! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:40:07 +0000 2017
nmhouston Q7. What are your best strategies for working with other people to meet a project deadline? #prodchat https://t.co/yzxCne09jS Thu Jul 20 00:41:49 +0000 2017
nmhouston A7 Different deadline styles are often a source of friction for teams. How do you get people to share what their tendencies are? #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:44:43 +0000 2017
PG_pmp @nmhouston A7: communication with stakeholders & information sharing at the right time resolves >90% of project problems #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:44:46 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A7: Be sure everyone is clear on their roles and their individual deadlines. It’s good that you are build on cushion so if… #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:45:25 +0000 2017
nmhouston @JKatzaman you do participate in a lot of chats! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:45:42 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A7:…someone falls behind, there’s still time to recover. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:46:09 +0000 2017
nmhouston @DrFrankBuck yes, building in some margin is always a good idea! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:47:03 +0000 2017
nmhouston Q8. What are you favorite tools or apps for making sure you track and meet deadlines? #prodchat https://t.co/mu96FOxEav Thu Jul 20 00:47:29 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A8: Toodledo. That’s my task app and holds everything that needs action now. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:48:40 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A8:… or should I say now or in the future. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:49:20 +0000 2017
nmhouston A8 I like @teamgantt for creating easy, visually appealing Gantt charts for complex projects #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:49:36 +0000 2017
PG_pmp @nmhouston A8: Microsoft Project, excel sheets, email, chats & phone to maintain proactive communication with stakeholders ? #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:50:16 +0000 2017
nmhouston A8 I also use color-coded G-calendars for ongoing milestones like each week of my course syllabi #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:51:26 +0000 2017
chrisellaloans A8. I really like @trello I use it for projects and my to accomplish lists! #prodchat https://t.co/4OOtfPKnjt Thu Jul 20 00:51:35 +0000 2017
chrisellaloans A7. Make sure everyone is on the same page and there are clear objectives and deadlines. In short, #communication… https://t.co/KCCyJZJLlt Thu Jul 20 00:52:15 +0000 2017
nmhouston A8 @idonethis can be used to track at the end of each day what you or yr team accomplished. Great way to adjust where needed. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:53:18 +0000 2017
chrisellaloans A6 Mini deadlines all along the way #ProdChat https://t.co/RAo3dUEMGt Thu Jul 20 00:53:56 +0000 2017
chrisellaloans I am always looking to get more sleep ;) #ProdChat https://t.co/d6Y4pBMAxN Thu Jul 20 00:54:18 +0000 2017
nmhouston @chrisellaloans @trello hi Christy, nice to see you this evening! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:54:50 +0000 2017
nmhouston Q9. What tips from tonight’s chat would you like to implement in the near future? #prodchat https://t.co/u1bNPPIxWG Thu Jul 20 00:55:20 +0000 2017
chrisellaloans A2 depends on project, I never want to delay others, but working too far in advance means you’re usually doing thin… https://t.co/p5OsfXNvd9 Thu Jul 20 00:55:43 +0000 2017
chrisellaloans @nmhouston @trello Nice to see you as well #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:56:24 +0000 2017
nmhouston A9 for me the common thread in everyone’s replies tonight was the importance of planning. Planning time is always worth it! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:56:46 +0000 2017
chrisellaloans A9 there are a few new tools I would like to try out #prodchat https://t.co/l9ru46MbxE Thu Jul 20 00:56:48 +0000 2017
nmhouston Join us next week for the rescheduled session on “Microsoft Productivity”! #prodchat https://t.co/ccwn19bDfT Thu Jul 20 00:57:59 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck A9: Yes, planning is everything! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:58:22 +0000 2017
chrisellaloans @nmhouston Agreed #ProdChat Thu Jul 20 00:58:35 +0000 2017
nmhouston Thanks everyone for a great #prodchat tonight! Look out for the Storify from tonight’s chat from @rsidneysmith! Thu Jul 20 00:58:36 +0000 2017
PG_pmp @nmhouston A9: I believe in proactive communication to reach any milestone, there is always life after finish line? #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:58:42 +0000 2017
DrFrankBuck Wonder if we could talk Bill Gates into joining us? #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:59:10 +0000 2017
nmhouston @chrisellaloans So true. Especially if some ideas may change as the project develops. #prodchat Thu Jul 20 00:59:44 +0000 2017
chrisellaloans @nmhouston @rsidneysmith Great to see you all. Looking forward to joining another #prodchat soon Thu Jul 20 01:00:09 +0000 2017
nmhouston @PG_pmp Yes, good communication is so important! #prodchat Thu Jul 20 01:00:31 +0000 2017
nmhouston @DrFrankBuck good luck with that! ;) #prodchat Thu Jul 20 01:02:08 +0000 2017
nmhouston @chrisellaloans @rsidneysmith thanks for stopping by! see you again soon — #prodchat Thu Jul 20 01:02:43 +0000 2017

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