The deadlines tighten as we approach Christmas and the end of the year.
For greater emphasis, your clients might talk of a ‘drop dead’ date, and you and your colleagues probably join in with that game – the world’s going to end if that task isn’t delivered by the chosen time.
It’s against that background that I challenge you to step back and ask yourself if you can do better.
Are you always scrambling to get what you produce off the end of your conveyor belt, whatever the cost to you and your colleagues, or are you learning and improving from the experience? Are you taking time to explain and put things in context for junior colleagues? Are you all going to complete this task with your knowledge, experience and CVs enhanced, or will you sweep it under the carpet and get on with the next emergency?
Giving up on your own development is one thing – just be honest with yourself about the choice you’re making. But your junior colleagues – and your firm – deserve better.