Comments on: We need this yesterday – how do you react?

By: Why do deadlines work? - Bad Language

Why do deadlines work? - Bad Language — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:26:08 +0000

[...] This is a slightly different problem from the one I discussed in November which involves doing stuff at the last minute because a client didn’t ask you soon enough (We need this yesterday – how do you react?). [...]

By: Matthew Stibbe

Matthew Stibbe — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:38:35 +0000

We’d all like to have clients like that!

By: Einat Adar

Einat Adar — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 09:27:28 +0000

Explaining the impact on quality is a good technique. It’s also true.

I’ve had one typical rush job client who was completely reformed. She told me once that “we’d like to have it today, but I know that if we rush you we won’t get results, so please take your time and do a good job.”

By: When writers become lawyers – how to agree terms with a client — Bad Language

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:26:59 +0000

[...] Wants everything yesterday [...]

By: Philip Hertzler

Philip Hertzler — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:21:19 +0000

Thanks, Matthew. I always appreciate your bright side perspective on client interactions!

By: Matthew Stibbe

Matthew Stibbe — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:35:20 +0000

@Sara These are good tips. You’ve obviously been in this situation! Matthew

By: Sara

Sara — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:06:07 +0000

Well, first of all, I try to prevent this from happening by setting (and making sure everybody sticks to) intermediary deadlines. And by informing the client that if intermediary deadlines are missed, the final deadline gets pushed back, too. Of course, none of this ever works in the real world, so, how do you react, indeed?

1 – Ask what’s driving the deadline (is the printer or the courier waiting, or is it just because someone will feel more comfortable having the document in their inbox or on their desk at 5 pm before they go home for the evening — or worse, weekend!)

2 – Give options (deadline can be met but with one draft round only = possibly detrimental to quality; if we have longer we get two draft rounds in; if we do two draft rounds by the deadline the price doubles, etc.)

3 – Try to be firm but fair and helpful early on in the relationship. I have a couple of clients where I’ve really set a bad precedent and I find myself asking “how high” instead of saying “no.”