Why time management is so important
Reliability impacts on trust and credibility

Why time management is so important

I've written so many articles, blogs and posts about time management, about tools and techniques that help people to work as effectively as they can do.? I sometimes wonder why I feel that time management is so important that I must put pen to paper.? Recently I discovered why.

A group of managers on our training programme "Managing Relationships and Communication in the 21st Century" were asked to identify the top five behaviours required to develop #trust in others.

The five factors they identified were

  • Honest
  • Reliable
  • Respectful
  • Approachable
  • Thoughtful/Supportive.

It struck me that ‘Reliable’ is different to the other four behaviours. Reliability can be measured.? You turn up on time or you don't. You deliver what you say you will or you don't.? So it's much easier to identify if it's happening or if it's not.? How you use your time has a big impact on people’s perceptions of your reliability.

It’s the fact that reliability is important in enabling and building trust that time management is so important.

I personally make every effort to turn up on time.? It's a ‘no-brainer’.? It costs no money, and is no more effort than turning up late.? Actually, it’s less effort as I avoid the feelings of stress and panic that are the invariable accompaniments of living in a last-minute, crisis mode.?

In terms of delivery, even though I score a zero as a Completer Finisher on Belbin’s team type assessment, I make sure I deliver what I say I will when I say I will.? I know not delivering is the quickest way to lose clients.? I will lose my credibility.

You cannot not communicate and your behaviour will always impact on other people.? They will interpret your timekeeping and delivery record as they choose.? They may see your lack of reliability, not meeting agreed deadlines, attendance times as

  • Disorganised? (can I trust this person to deliver?) and/or
  • Disrespectful (you don't care that you've kept them waiting)and/or
  • Incompetent (if you can't manage your time, how can you manage anything else?)

If people want to say no to you, to your promotion, to your recruitment, to your request, you’ve given them an easy way to do it.? Even if your organisation has a culture of lateness, it doesn’t mean that your lateness will not be noticed or you will not be criticised for being late.? Tangible behaviours are the most easy to identify and like evidence, are likely to be used against you.

This is why time management is so important.



#credibility #trust #kristabites #crediblehr #reliability #performance

Felicity Dwyer

Development for leaders and teams??Facilitator??Coach ??Speaker ??Author of Crafting Connection: Transform how you communicate with yourself and others ??Host AC Podcast series Coaching the Whole Person

1 年

I agree that reliability is an important element of building trust. It's important to be realistic about timescales and not to over-commit. And it's about communication too of course, better to negotiate an extended deadline than to say nothing if you risk missing a delivery date that's been agreed.

Catherine Stothart

Motivating Leadership Coach, Author of Best-Selling How to Get On with Anyone and Motivation: The Ultimate Guide, Coach at Airbus, former Google Mastery Faculty Partner, Events Director at BAPT.

1 年

Great article - simple message, communicated clearly.....and it's true!

Angela E.

People & Culture, Change, Projects, Chartered. Based in Glasgow, Scotland. Hybrid/Remote working.

1 年

Whilst it’s an important skill, It’s also a good one for bad managers to set people up to fail on when they want to get rid of them for no good reason. Time management, communications etc can all be shovelled through manipulation and sometimes deceit so you can highlight how bad they are. I always take someone’s account of their colleague or direct reports poor time management with a big pinch of salt esp when a reorganisation or promotion for some is pending…

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