Be explicit about deadlines and urgency

32 views Updated Jan. 7, 2026
The Rule

State deadlines with dates and time zones, and define what 'urgent' means.

Why It Matters

Time urgency can be interpreted differently across cultures.

Common Mistakes

  • Saying 'ASAP' without a date
  • Assuming same working hours
Pro Tip

Use: 'By Jan 10, 17:00 CET' instead of 'end of day'.

This Rule Applies To:

Roles: Host / facilitator Participant

Situations: Client meetings Cross-time-zone teams International teams

Audiences: Managers & team leads Remote employees

Platforms: Universal

Organization Types: Cross-time-zone teams International teams