The importance of good time-keeping

The importance of good time-keeping

What are your thoughts on poor time-keeping?

I don’t know whether it’s because I’m such a work-in-progress on this issue, but I’m becoming increasingly frustrated with people who don’t think it’s an issue to turn up late to prescheduled meetings. Is it because I’m trying so hard to manage my own time as effectively as possible that I get annoyed when people act as if their time is more precious than mine or the people who turned up on time?​

I do try to think more broadly (honest) and, on the first occasion, give them the benefit of the doubt that it may be a blindspot – they might not realise the impact their tardiness has on others.

So, I’ve come up with a few tips!

👉  Speak to the person privately to avoid embarrassing them in front of others. Use “I” statements to express how their lateness affects you and the team. For example, “I feel stressed when meetings start late because it disrupts my schedule.“​

👉  Make sure everyone understands the importance of punctuality. Start a meeting on time, whether everyone is there or not. Don’t repeat what people have missed when they enter the room – make it their responsibility to catch up on what they’ve missed.​

👉  If the issue is widespread, consider implementing a formal policy on meeting punctuality. What gets measured gets done!​

👉  Demonstrate punctuality yourself. You’re a role model, after all, and being consistently on time sets a standard for the rest of the team.​

👉  If someone has a legitimate reason for being late, try to accommodate their needs while emphasising the importance of punctuality.​

👉  If someone continues to be late, follow up with them to understand if there are underlying issues. They might need support or adjustments to their workload.​