Time Management Program - Punctuality is Important
Punctuality is a big deal in time management. Everyone is late sometimes, right? Yes, most people are occasionally late and when they are it’s because of an unexpected occurrence. But when you are habitually late punctuality is an issue you need to address.
When you aren’t punctual you set yourself up for escalating levels of stress. When you start the day late you tend to run late the entire day. Even though you may not place a high value on punctuality, recognize that others do. Lateness can lose you the sale, cost you the job, diminish the level of respect the other person has for you because they are thinking that if you can’t even be counted on to be on time how can they count on you for something important.
Punctuality is an integrity issue that creates chaos in your time management program. When you aren’t punctual you are demonstrating a lack of integrity with yourself and others. When you agree to hold an appointment at a specific time and then you’re late you have missed an opportunity to keep your word. Keeping your word enables you to feel good about yourself and others to feel good about you.
Punctuality communicates more than timeliness. When you aren’t punctual it demonstrates a lack of focus and clarity on what’s important. When something is really important to you, you will be on time. Being late communicates the appointment wasn’t important to you.
How do you improve your punctuality? Start allowing a little slack time between your appointments. Give yourself at least an extra 15 minutes between each appointment. Then if you’re a little early use those few minutes to do those little things that don’t take much time like reading an article, making a quick phone call, planning the next week’s calendar etc. As you improve your timeliness you’ll feel a whole lot better and more in control. You won’t need to be speeding around to get everywhere, and you project a more professional image.
When you aren’t punctual you set yourself up for escalating levels of stress. When you start the day late you tend to run late the entire day. Even though you may not place a high value on punctuality, recognize that others do. Lateness can lose you the sale, cost you the job, diminish the level of respect the other person has for you because they are thinking that if you can’t even be counted on to be on time how can they count on you for something important.
Punctuality is an integrity issue that creates chaos in your time management program. When you aren’t punctual you are demonstrating a lack of integrity with yourself and others. When you agree to hold an appointment at a specific time and then you’re late you have missed an opportunity to keep your word. Keeping your word enables you to feel good about yourself and others to feel good about you.
Punctuality communicates more than timeliness. When you aren’t punctual it demonstrates a lack of focus and clarity on what’s important. When something is really important to you, you will be on time. Being late communicates the appointment wasn’t important to you.
How do you improve your punctuality? Start allowing a little slack time between your appointments. Give yourself at least an extra 15 minutes between each appointment. Then if you’re a little early use those few minutes to do those little things that don’t take much time like reading an article, making a quick phone call, planning the next week’s calendar etc. As you improve your timeliness you’ll feel a whole lot better and more in control. You won’t need to be speeding around to get everywhere, and you project a more professional image.