Procrastination: avoiding the deadline killer

Follow these tips to keep your yearbook staff on task during deadlines.

• Strive for commitment, not compliance
• Set short-term goals
• Set priorities, and stick with them
• Don’t blow up small problems
• Be constructive
• Give praise freely
• Train staff well and give clear instructions
• Post tasks where readily accessible

Easy does it

Here are tasks that will make deadlines easier on you and your adviser:

• post everything: assignments, results, problems, contacts, events calendars
• check on all staffers daily
• keep a master list on name spelling in the staff room.
• put a responsible person in charge of keeping the list of students who have been quoted and pictured
• think of problems as challenges, and be flexible
• make sure each staff member understands his/her assignment fully
• include photographers in all staff meetings
• make meetings short and to-the-point so staffers can get to work

A good leader

• knows his/her job
• is a leader, not a driver
• explains the how AND why
• develops people
• keeps up with progress
• is honest
• acknowledges honest effort
• strives for respect
• is consistent with all
• doesn’t promise what can’t deliver
• doesn’t pass the buck
• is open-minded
• communicates ideas, not emotions
• is a team player