How did you handle meeting a tight deadline?

magine if you worked at a place without deadlines. A place that allowed you to work at your own pace and finish whenever you like. Imagine that they still paid you. How long do you think that company would last before it completely went under? Every job has deadlines, otherwise nothing would get accomplished. Companies that often have tight and stressful deadlines like to ask their applicants how they handle pressure. They do this for two reasons: To make sure you understand that if you take the job, there is going to be a lot of pressure. To see if you can prove to them that you handle deadline pressure well. Obviously you are going to claim you handle pressure well. Do so with confidence, otherwise the company may doubt your resolve. Yet you can also shine a little with this question if you answer it correctly, by saying something that gives the company confidence you know what you are doing. Bad Answer “I work really well under pressure. In fact, I thrive.” This doesn’t really say much, though good on you to claim that pressure is great. If it was great, it wouldn’t be pressure. Good Answer “Deadlines have always been more of a motivational tool. When I worked for Company XYZ, we often had to work triple time to meet some of the strict deadlines in the field. In the beginning it was difficult, because it was a new experience, but the more I got used to deadlines and what they require, the easier they became, and I suspect I will feel the same way towards any deadlines I may experience in this new position.” Everyone can claim they can handle deadlines, but why should the company believe you? The best thing you can do is “prove” it to them by discussing deadlines you had at a previous employer. Take Away Interview Tips Yes, you can handle deadlines. See if you can discuss pressure at a previous employer and how you handled it.

I use project management tools and To-Do list

Got to understand, be ready and say focused on the priorities, planning, scheduling, expertise, resources, missions and goals to be achieved with all the challenges including resolving all technical and business issues..   

Very good question.

With a healthy dose or realism.  When reality does not match with situations and circumstances then you are left floundering fantasy.  So I approach tight deadlines with an understanding of what I can do within the constraints given, recognize the talent around and allocate assignments appropriately (which entails knowing the strengths and weaknesses of my team), and set realistic goals. timelines, resources, and expectations to get the job done on time  every time.  If the task and timeline do not match, I honestly state what can be accomplished, look at the doing what will achieve the best overall results, and focus, focus, focus until completed.  Then I sit back and say, great job to my team and myself because we have done it again -- achieved what no other could achieve in the time and with the resources allocated.  

With Focus, Confidence and Patience. And for sure by effective planning.

I always encourage participative meeting, so that everyone's opinion is valued & respected. The benefit is - Decision  arrived is not opposed but accepted and applied whole heartedly. At the same time, there is a challenge in conducting in time bound meeting.

 "New opinions are always suspected, and usually opposed, without any other reason but because they are not already common". This is what is written in my meeting room. This reminds every participant to be focused on constructive criticism to minimise wasting time. One can consumes more time to minutes the meeting because many consumes few minutes to meeting.

As for the deadlines, I would take a look at the most important task and prioritize. Tackle the ones that have the tightest deadlines to meet and then work back from there. If there was to much and I had the authority to do so, I would delegate the ones that I could so that I then would be able to concentrate on the ones that need to meet a deadline.

By prioritizing your things, By staying focused, quick,confident and more important by being positive.

I was able to present the work in its final form and the required form, while clarifying that the work is still in progress and subject to change and expressing an opinion on all conditions

I agree with the the expert answers. Thanks

Agreed to the experts....................... thanks for the invitation...................