Quote Originally Posted by Brent View Post
How do you deal with people who violate this? E.g., you promise something in two weeks, but after a week and a half they demand it immediately?
I think a commitment is a contract (even if it's only informal and verbal). In that sense, you have each agreed to something. This individual would certainly remind you of your agreement if you were late. I think it is perfectly fair to remind them of your agreement if they demand it early.

Your agreement was based on your available time, quality standards, and other priorities, and, at the time, they agreed to the same thing. I wonder if their moving up the deadline is similar to someone who (reluctantly) agrees to a deadline they suspect they can't meet. I wonder if this person might have known they would want it earlier, but that they didn't have the guts to say so at the time.

Well, either that, or they are just inconsiderate, demanding, and difficult to work with. I still think restating the "contract" is the right path, with an appropriate reminder of the quality levels or conflicting priorities or whatever else that will likely suffer if you attempt to meet the NEW deadline. You planned your work around the agreement you made so you could deliver what they asked, when they asked. I guess in the spirit of being flexible and easier to work with, you could renegotiate any they are willing to give up in order to get this in their new timeframe (shorter? rough figures instead of tight ones?)

Ah, if we could just do our work without having to deal with the rest of it.