Here's what helps when facing tight deadlines: Delegate Wisely: Identify tasks that don't need your expertise and assign them to trusted team members you've trained. This leverages your team's strengths and frees you to focus on critical work. Prioritize and Plan: Early recognition of overwhelm allows for better prioritization. Assess tasks by urgency and importance, and adjust your plan accordingly. Self-Care Matters: Avoid the temptation to overwork at the expense of sleep and well-being. Rest keeps you efficient and sharp. Communicate Openly: If deadlines are unrealistic, discuss them with project managers and clients. Negotiation may lead to adjusted timelines or extra resources.

To delegate tasks effectively and meet project deadlines without burnout, I start by identifying each team member's strengths and expertise, ensuring tasks align with their skills. I set clear expectations regarding deadlines and desired outcomes, minimizing confusion and fostering accountability. Providing ongoing support is essential; I make sure resources are accessible and encourage open communication, so team members feel comfortable seeking assistance when needed. Regular check-ins help track progress and address any challenges promptly. By fostering a collaborative environment, I can balance workloads, maintain productivity, and keep the team motivated during high-pressure periods.

Delegation is an important skill that managers shall possess however usually delegation is done for tasks with low or medium importance and high priority. Although mangers must thoroughly consider skills and experience of his delegate to avoid any unhappy consequences which may lead to change the criticality of the tasks. Bottom line managers can't be successful without delegation. And keep in mind only micromanagers can't delegate 😉

Identify Delegation-Ready Tasks: Start by identifying specific tasks that others can take on without deep oversight, such as drafting preliminary designs, running calculations, or preparing documents that require less final review. Match Skills to Tasks: Delegate to team members whose skills align with each task’s requirements. For example, if you have someone strong in code compliance, assign them to review plans for regulatory adherence. Provide Clear Instructions and Deadlines: Share the purpose and context of each task and outline any building code specifics they need to consider. This can reduce back-and-forth and help team members handle decisions within their scope.