How to Ask for a Deadline Extension

Asking early and honestly gets better results than missing the deadline silently.

1. Ask as soon as you know there's a problem, not right before or after the deadline.
2. State a specific new date you can commit to, rather than an open-ended "soon."
3. Briefly explain the reason without over-justifying or making excessive excuses.
4. Acknowledge any impact the delay causes and, if possible, offer a partial deliverable in the meantime.

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