Some deadlines are missed because people perceive them to be fake deadlines. Following are several reasons why a deadline is considered fake:

1. No reason attached to the deadline—tell folks that have to live by the deadline why you chose that timeframe.

2. Too much cushion—the deadline has too much lag time afterward.

3. Impossible to hit—if the deadline is unrealistic, people will make up their own deadline.

4. No teeth if missed—if there are no consequences to missing a deadline, the deadline will be treated like a suggestion.

5. Not noticed if missed—this makes a deadline like hot air.

6. Too fuzzy—be precise; telling a person that the deadline is next week is not nearly as good as the deadline being next Tuesday at 5:00 p.m.