Dr. Gil Lederman talks about the importance of finishing things up on the right time and how it's crucial to have time management.

1. Deadlines and why they Matter
Deadlines are meant to be a motivational tool. Deadlines put a timetable on when we will
accomplish something that is important to you or your supervisor or customer. Many of the
deadlines are set by others. You have no say in when the deadline is, but you’re responsible for it
and may have to face the consequences if it isn’t met. So let’s discuss how to deal with
deadlines, whether you set them or someone else does.

2. First, as soon as you receive an assignment, it will be most helpful if you immediately break
down the end-goal. One way that is useful is to reverse engineer it. Start with what the finished
goal means and then figure out the last step before it is complete, then the step before that, going
back to the first step needed. Once you have the process figured out, then look at how much time
each step is likely to take – not the best possible scenario, but a realistic estimate. Then you’ll
know how much time you need to commit to the project to meet the deadline. If it looks
impossible, then you can advise your supervisor or boss that you will need other people involved
in order to meet the deadline, or that the deadline needs to be revised. The sooner this is planned
for, the better. You don’t want to have to report this problem when the deadline has almost
arrived.
Now you’ve figured out the steps and time needed, and made arrangements for help or necessary
resources. Start work on meeting the deadline as quickly as you can. That will allow you the
maximum amount of time so you won’t have to be stressed as the deadline looms. If you are in
control of the deadline, you should set a realistic timeframe, but don’t allow yourself so much
time that you can keep putting the work on the back burner.
So, why do you need to keep to deadlines? Well, first off, it will help you accomplish what you
want to do. Second, it shows others that you can be counted on to do what you say you will. If
you want to grow a business, you need to be timely and reliable. Deadlines help you show that
you do exactly that. When you do that enough times, your reputation brings more business to
your door. Or as a worker, it will help you move up the ladder faster. When you’ve shown time
and again that you can work within a deadline and do the work well, you become an invaluable
asset to your business and customers.

3. Use deadlines to build your reputation and move forward faster.
Dr. Gil Lederman is a NYC medical professional.