Many people take a deep breath at the beginning of December. The realization that there’s only one month left in the year comes as a shock, no matter how many times you’ve gone through it!

The people who succeed are those who manage their priorities effectively. Not all priorities are equal! On the other end of the spectrum are people who are unrealistic about what can actually be completed in the remaining available time.

+ Identify your top priorities, remembering that not every priority is equally weighted. Once you have determined these, identify the milestones that you’ll need to achieve to accomplish your goal.

+ Have a realistic sense of how much time you really have to work in December. Many people take off the week between Christmas and New Year’s, for example, which automatically eliminates 4-6 business days. You may be working, but what about the people who are integral to completing your projects?

+ Manage expectations about your staff. Don’t begrudge them their vacation time just because you’re behind in your execution.

+ If you are going to miss a deadline that involves other stakeholders, tell them in advance so they know what to expect. Don’t disclose this information at the last minute.

+ Remember to sincerely thank your colleagues who do go the extra mile to help you achieve your milestones. You don’t want people calling you Scrooge behind your back, after all!

Make sure you also allocate time for personal activities as well. When you do something special for family or friends, you will appreciate it as much as they will. It may seem unrealistic, but try for a little balance in your priorities.

Header image Glenn Carstens-Peters/Unsplash