So, why is setting time expectations so important?
The challenge for creative professionals is that if you don’t set expectations, your clients will. That means you may go for months–or even years–feeling like you’re constantly being thrown for a loop by everyone else’s whims. Most clients don’t know what’s reasonable in your field so for everyone to be happy, you need to let them know what to expect.
What’s one of the biggest problem areas?
Communication is by far one of the biggest issues. If creative professionals don’t set clear boundaries on when they will and won’t be available to answer clients’ and colleagues’ questions, they never feel like they have a break.
What do you suggest to set time expectations about e-mail, voicemail, etc.?
Set limits on when you and your staff will be accessible, and as much as possible, stick with them. Also try not to set the expectation that you will answer communication immediately. If you consistently answer e-mail and voicemail in about 24 hours, clients and colleagues won’t be upset if they don’t hear from you right away. (For more info on this topic, check out my blog post on How to Set E-mail Expectations.)
What about when you don’t hear back from colleagues?
When colleague don’t communicate a decision until right before a deadline, it can wreak havoc on your workflow. You can use this type of approach to set standards for communication with your colleague:
Dear [name of colleague]:
I’ve attached the proposal for the work we discussed. In order to meet your deadline of Friday, December 17, I’ll need to hear back from you by Friday, December 10. If I receive a decision from you after the 10th, we’ll need to move back the deadline.
We look forward to serving you well.
All the best,
Creative Professional
Are there any other ways creative professionals can eliminate deadline stress?
If you don’t make promises to deliver decisions or services “by tomorrow” or “by next week,” you can reduce stress by increasing your timeline. Also, creative professionals shouldn’t make commitments to a deadline until they have a clear sense of when they can complete the work. Just because a client or colleague wants something as soon as possible, doesn’t mean that you should stay up until 2 a.m. trying to finish everything for them.
Any other final time tips?
If there’s any part of your workflow that’s causing you time stress, ask yourself the question, “Should I be setting my expectations differently for myself or others?” Most of the time the answer is, “Yes!”
About Real Life E®
Elizabeth Grace Saunders is the founder and CEO of Real Life E® a time coaching and training company that empowers individuals who feel guilty, overwhelmed and frustrated to feel peaceful, confident and accomplished through an exclusive Schedule Makeover™ process. She is an expert on achieving more success with less stress. Real Life E® also increases employee productivity, satisfaction and work/life balance through custom training programs.
McGraw Hill published her first book The 3 Secrets to Effective Time Investment: How to Achieve More Success with Less Stress. Elizabeth contributes to blogs like Lifehacker, Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and the 99U blog on productivity for creative professionals. She was selected as one of the Top 25 Amazing Women of the Year by Stiletto Woman.
