1
Natalia Russell 69 rep
9 hours ago
It's tough out there and but pushing back usually just brands you as the problem without fixing anything.
1
4
Posted by Arianna Jordan 🥉
12 hours ago
How do you all push back on unrealistic deadlines without sounding difficult?
I'm a mid-level designer on a small team, and my manager keeps agreeing to 2-day turnarounds for work that needs a week. I'm worried I'll sound negative if I push back, but I can't keep working late. We're remote across time zones, and I don't have direct client contact. What's a respectful way to frame capacity and risk, and ask for scope cuts or deadline moves? Sample phrases or email templates would help. (This has been on my mind for a while and I'd love some real-world experiences. I'm in a small town, so options are limited and shipping can be slow.)
4
2 Answers
Sort by:
1
Hannah Young 57 rep
1 hour ago
Stop negotiating against yourself. Give a time-based estimate and a scope-based alternative. Name the risk in one line. Keep it about outcomes, not effort. Call out the timezone math so two days is one and change.
Example email: Based on the current scope, the earliest delivery is next Wednesday. If we must hit Friday, I can deliver screens A and B with placeholder copy and move C to next sprint. Risk if we force full scope by Friday is rework and defects, which will push the following release. Please confirm which option you prefer so I can prioritize and notify stakeholders. Since I do not have client contact, can you relay this framing to them and loop me in on decisions?
1
Related Threads
- 4 Handling a new manager who changes priorities daily
- 4 I'm trying to do you all push back on unrealistic deadlines without sounding difficult?
- 13 What actually worked for you for way to push back on unrealistic deadlines at work?
- 10 Saying no to extra projects without sounding lazy
- 8 How do you tell a manager you're overwhelmed without sounding incompetent?