There are 168 hours in a week, no more and no less. Time is precious, it’s the one variable that we can never get back.
Are you the kind of person who is habitually early, on time, or late?
I have always been early. It’s something about me that I can’t explain, it’s just the way I am. I remember pacing in my living room the day I was married. I was dressed and ready to go but the bride is not supposed to be early. I didn’t want to sit down and wrinkle my dress so I just paced.
I recently coached an executive who was habitually late. She was late for every coaching session that we schedule and her co-workers told me about her habitual tardiness, it annoyed them. When I asked her if she was an early bird, an on-time person, or a late person she told me that she was always on time. Clearly, she was in denial. I considered her lateness to our coaching sessions disrespectful. Her company was investing money to provide executive coaching and she did not care enough to show up on time. Very often, business leaders waste money providing executive coaching for an employee who isn’t interested in improvement. When I realize coaching is a waste of time and money, I pull the plug and opt out.
I have a lot of respect for people who are on time for meetings, appointments, and events. When you care enough to be on time, it tells me that you respect others. You respect their schedule. You respect their 168 hours.
I facilitate corporate training programs for a living. I always arrive at least 30 minutes early to prepare the room and to prepare myself. The earliest person typically arrives 20 minutes before the training starts. I enjoy being available for the early birds and having informal conversations. Most of the time, I begin on time. I don’t believe in punishing the people who arrive on time by starting late, it’s just not fair. The only time I will not start a training program or meeting on time is if there is no one in the room and/or if the host, who is paying me, instructs me to start late.
If managing your time is a challenge, try a few of these best practices.
· Wake up 30 minutes earlier.
· Prioritize your activities and do what matters most.
· Delegate tasks. You don’t have to do everything at home and at work. Teach those who support you to do some of the stuff that is overwhelming you.
· Write stuff down so you don’t forget.
· Identify time wasters and just stop wasting your time. I often hear that social media is a time waster and yet so many people are constantly looking at their phones.
Let me know your best practice for managing time. I'd love to hear.
