How Being on Time Can Improve Your Professional Life
People often say, “Start at the beginning. Be prompt.” Even though people often say this advice in jest, there is some truth to it. A recent study by Bain & Company found that if a meeting starts five minutes late, it will be 8% less effective. Even though it might not seem like much, being on time is important if you want to be as productive as possible (and impress your co-workers!). If you want to make sure you’re always on time for meetings, here are four ways to do it.
Leave extra time for yourself:
People are more likely to work harder to reach their goals when they have a specific amount of time to do so. This means that giving yourself extra time will help you be more organised and ready for meetings. Be sure you know how long it will take you to get to your meeting and give yourself an extra 15 minutes in case you get stuck in traffic or something else goes wrong on the way.
Set your alarm earlier:
We all have days when we hit the snooze button too many times before getting out of bed, but this won’t do if you want to be on time! If you want to get where you’re going on time, setting your alarm earlier can give you extra time in case something goes wrong on your commute or before the meeting starts.
Prepare Ahead to Being on Time:
If you can, try to get ready ahead of time so that when it’s crunch time, all you have left to do are small details or tweaks that don’t take too much time or effort. This can help ease any stress or worry that comes from not being ready or being late because of changes or additions made at the last minute. Having everything ready and organized will save you valuable minutes that can help you get where you need to go on time. Also focus on starting new initiatives like sports, using eco-friendly products, music, etc. to see how you are able to manage time for new activities.
Plan for the unexpected:
We all know that life doesn’t always go as planned. Traffic jams can pop up out of nowhere, and last-minute cancellations can completely change our plans. Plan and think about alternative routes in case something unexpected comes up during your commute. This way, no matter what happens, you’ll always have a way to get back on track quickly and easily. Overall, being on time isn’t just about being able to get somewhere on time. It’s also about being well-prepared and organised when you do get there!
With these four tips in mind, the next time you have a meeting or appointment, start at the beginning and shoot for the stars. Your future self will thank you.
