Does it seem like people are always slamming you with impossibly urgent requests? Don’t be a victim of unrealistic demands. You have more power than you think. You have more power than you think. Take a control of your work and your life by putting an end to the madness. Here’s how:
Recognise the difference: First, it’s helpful to remember that “unrealistic” demands are not simply “difficult” demands. An unrealistic demand is one that simply cannot be accomplished with normal or even exceptional effort. To meet an unrealistic demand, you have to push yourself (and perhaps others) to extremes, make exceptions and/or lower the quality of your work.
Address it quickly: As soon as you know a deadline isn’t manageable — or have a sneaking suspicion that it could get thrown off track if something were to go less than perfectly — communicate it. Be proactive. Don’t wait until things are careening off course. Provide a more realistic expectation as early as possible.
Offer explanations, not excuses: Take some time to explain to others why certain demands are unrealistic and why the new expectation you’re setting is more realistic. A large part of why people place unrealistic demands on others is simply that they don’t understand the work involves in performing specific tasks.
Focus on quality: Commit to providing high-quality work and ask others to help you stay true to this by giving you the time and resources you need to make it happen.
Ask for help: When people set unrealistic demands on you, they may not understand the frustration, stress, and overall negative impact it can have on you and your work. Ask them to help by considering what is truly urgent.
Make exceptions: No matter how hard you try to put an end to unrealistic demands, you never will. At least not entirely. So understand that you will need to, at times, attempt to meet expectations that feel nearly impossible. Just do your best to make exceptions rare, not a part of your daily routine. — Agencies
