In my view, setting right priorities is very important based on the market study and MVP. Having the right skilled resources to support all elements of the project is very important. knowing the dependencies/risks of the project to meet the timelines. Once we have all the above details, having a good plan and good process/WOW is important to deliver the project as per the timelines. On top of all these, having right mindset with right motivation, any challenging project can be met within the given timelines.

Definitely not easy but can be done with the right strategies. For me, making sure we have a plan (with reference to deadlines and priorities) is important. Moreover, I like dividing projects into milestones that are smaller, have shorter deadlines and help prioritising important stuff. One step at a time along with proper communication, note taking and documentation helps achieve the bigger goal!

One thing that I have found helpful is to define what is a "minimum viable product" (MVP) in early stages. Nothing during the planning, design and execution phase trumps the MVP. MVP comes from the requirements specification and or the detailed problem statement against which we are solving for. Keep track progress MVP vs other work that the creeps in.

Balancing priorities and timelines in a software design project is critical for achieving objectives on my team. Usually my approach involves dividing the project into tasks, with its own timeline and priority, ensuring alignment the goals. Our teams heavily relies on Agile methodologies, sprint goals, and daily team syncs to address shifting requirements without sacrificing quality. Deadlines remain important, but the ultimate goal is to deliver software that fulfills business needs.

Involve your team when estimating features and epics. Select a few (three to five) relative estimation categories, or buckets, and estimate all features in terms of these categories.