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Role-play: Negotiating a Deadline with a Client
Speaking
Role-play
You are a freelance graphic designer. Your client, Ms Kaya, expects the finished brand identity by Friday, but you realistically need until the following Wednesday. You need to negotiate without losing her goodwill.
Partner: "I hope you've got good news. We're presenting to the board on Friday afternoon, so I'm counting on having everything by then."
Your turn: Tactfully explain that the full set will take until next Wednesday and say why.
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Model answer: I wish I could say yes outright, Ms Kaya, but I'd rather be candid than over-promise. The refinements you requested on the logo have had a knock-on effect on the entire set, and doing them properly would take until next Wednesday.
Partner: "That's a serious problem. The board won't wait, and frankly I expected this to be settled by now."
Your turn: Acknowledge her frustration and offer to deliver the logo and colour palette by Thursday evening.
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Model answer: I completely understand, and I'm sorry for the pressure it puts you under. What I can do is deliver the finished logo and colour palette by Thursday evening, which should give you enough to show the board a convincing core.
Partner: "And the rest? Stationery, social media templates and so on? I can't present half a brand."
Your turn: Suggest presenting the remaining items as mock-ups and promise full files the following Wednesday.
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Model answer: I'd suggest showing those items as polished mock-ups, which tend to be persuasive in a boardroom anyway. I'll then supply the complete, production-ready files by the following Wednesday, so nothing would be left unfinished for long.
Partner: "Mock-ups might do. But I'll want that in writing, and I won't expect any further revisions after that."
Your turn: Agree, confirm you will send a written summary today, and politely set a limit on revisions.
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Model answer: That's entirely reasonable. I'll email you a written summary of the dates this afternoon. As for revisions, perhaps we could allow one final round of minor changes after Wednesday, and treat anything beyond that as a separate project.
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