3 top tips to help you never miss a deadline again
Life as a trainee can often involve juggling multiple pieces of work for different people. As such, conflicting deadlines are inevitable. Knowing how to manage your time and work efficiently to meet these deadlines is a skill that takes plenty of practice, but with these top tips it will seem a lot less daunting.
1) Keep a to do list
Keeping a ‘to do’ list will help you keep on top of what needs to be done and when it needs to be done by. This will help you to plan and manage your workload effectively. It can also be useful to include a note of how urgent the task is and whether there is any flexibility in respect of the deadline. This information can be incredibly useful if something else pops up later down the line.
2) Speak to your supervisor
As a trainee, you will not be expected to know how long a task will take you from day one and you should seek guidance from your supervisor to assist you with this. They will be able to help you prioritise and manage your workload and avoid the situation where a deadline is suddenly upon you. It is also important to manage the expectations of others and communicate with your supervisor (and other team members) if you are at full capacity.
3) Delegation
As a trainee, you may feel that you cannot delegate. However, in many instances, it can be the difference between keeping on top of your to do list and feeling more than a little behind schedule. Firms like Michelmores have a wealth of skills and experience across their support teams – meaning that, more often than not, you will find that you can receive help from others. Delegation is also a key skill going forward in your career – so learning the ‘dos and don’ts’ at an early stage can be incredibly valuable. It is important to remember that delegating does not mean simply washing your hands of the task – as this is a recipe for last minute surprises. When engaging with support teams it is helpful to detail the work you have carried out to date, give clear instructions and be prepared to provide further guidance. Also remember to set aside the time to review the work, before passing it on to your supervisor.
