Deadlines don’t create pressure. Delay does. As March winds down, tax season creeps into focus. Receipts get gathered. Spreadsheets get opened. Conversations start with, “I should have done this earlier.” Most of the stress isn’t about the deadline itself. It’s about what was postponed. The same pattern shows up in leadership. Performance issues that weren’t addressed in January become bigger conversations in April. Small communication gaps widen. Minor tensions compound. The