How to Handle Unrealistic Demands

Do ever feel like people are just slamming you with urgent requests? Do you feel like the deadlines you are expected to meet are impossible? Are the work demands placed on you so intense that you find your personal life suffering as you stay late at the office or take work home with you on weekends and still find yourself falling short of expectations? Don't let yourself be a victim of unrealistic demands. It's easy to simply accept it as being "the way of the world" since it seems most people suffer with this affliction. But you have the power to take control of your work and your life by putting an end to unrealistic demands. Here's how...

Establish Realistic and Consistent Performance Standards that Meet Needs

Let's be clear: "unrealistic" demands are not "difficult" demands. You will always have goals and expectations that make you stretch your skills and push you to perform past your everyday comfort levels. An unrealistic demand is one that simply cannot be done through the course of normal or even exceptional work and effort. In order to meet an unrealistic demand, you have to push yourself (and perhaps others) to extremes, make exceptions and/or lower the quality of your work. These actions are not sustainable and they can have a negative impact on you and others around you.

When facing an unrealistic demand, try these actions steps:

1. Address It

Often times, the "unrealistic" portion of any demand is the timeframe in which it is expected to be complete. A lot of people procrastinate and then expect others to act urgently in order to meet deadlines. This is not an acceptable way to behave - but it's common throughout the business world. When someone tries to inflict an unrealistic demand on you, it is imperative that you address it immediately. At the appropriate time, approach the person (or group) who has set the expectation level. In a professional manner, explain the ways in which the demand is unrealistic and how it could be made more realistic (for example, by shifting the time frame). Work to find a compromise that is acceptable for everyone and meets the business needs.

2. Explain Why

Take some time to explain to others why certain demands are unrealistic. A large part of why people place unrealistic demands on others is simply that they don't understand the work involved in performing specific tasks. If they think it's a task that can be performed in 5 minutes, they will expect you to have it done extremely quickly. But many tasks can appear easier than they are. Be sure others are aware of the time it takes to do things, the other people involved in getting them done, and the timeframes that can be expected on a regular basis. No one drops their paperwork off at their accountant's office on April 13th and expects to have their taxes done in time. Their CPA has set a very clear expectation and people know the work it takes. Help others understand the expectations of your job and give them very clear guidelines.

3. Focus on Quality

Often times, people expect things to get done quickly but they don't think about the quality with which they are done. When working in an environment that expects unrealistic things, the quality of work tends to go down as people stretch to achieve these things. When sales goals are unrealistic, people start using high-pressure, unethical sales techniques to make the numbers. When deadlines get too tight, people start moving quickly and making mistakes just to meet the cutoff. Make a commitment to high quality in your work and ask others to help you stay true to this.

4. Ask Other to Help

When people set unrealistic demands, they may not understand the frustration, stress and overall negative impact it can have on you and your work. Ask them to help by considering what is truly urgent. There are people who will always call a request urgent simply out of routine or fear that not calling it urgent will mean it never gets done. Addressing it with others will help build awareness. Ask that others respect your time and work and afford them the same courtesy.

5. Make Exceptions

No matter how hard you try to put an end to unrealistic demands, you likely never will. So understand that you will need to, at times, attempt to meet expectations that are nearly impossible. It's not always fun but do your best and see what comes of it. No one likes a co-worker who refuses to pitch-in when needed. It has a seriously negative effect on team morale and it will probably get you labeled "not a team player". Just do your best to make exceptions rare, not a part of the daily routine.

And remember that sometimes, "impossible" and "unrealistic" are just state of mind. "Impossible" things happen everyday. Some demands that seem unrealistic may actually be groundbreaking. Don't shy away from challenge, but use these tips to help prevent an overload of unnecessary stress and eventual burnout.