11 - Deadlines

How well do you perform under deadlines?

I ask because my working day is made up of three, or often four immovable deadlines. If I miss those deadlines (the on air slot for my story) by even a few seconds - I may as well miss by days.
And that would mean big trouble. No greater sin for a reporter than to "not make" my slot, as the jargon goes.

And friends often comment, "how do you cope with the stress!?"

But actually, I am better under immediate pressure, and so is the entire team. We all make decisions more quickly, think more clearly, and communicate more efficiently. And I find that the day flies by when I am working towards mid morning, lunchtime, early evening, and even late programmes.

Don't get me wrong, it's not always ideal. When you are lost driving to a live location, don't know the subject properly and only have twenty minutes until you are on air (which has happened more times that I can count!) I would give anything to slow time.

But the rest of the time I thrive on it.

Perversely though, over the years it has made me hopeless at every day tasks when out of work. If something doesn't need doing in the next few hours, I don't bother!!

I've become a last minute merchant, which isn't a popular trait...