Better to be three hours too soon, than one minute too late. – William Shakespeare
December being the last month of the year, I thought of writing on punctuality. Have you ever missed your flight? Has the door in your classroom been closed for you because you were 15 minutes late and you were allowed to go in during the break? Have you ever gone inside the classroom where your teacher was giving a 20-item quiz, and she was dictating number 16 question when you arrived? Were you asked to do push-ups, stand at the flag pole?
Many of us have experienced some of the aforementioned and many other consequences for not being punctual.
Employers need their people to show up on time to get the job done, to project a good image of the company and to win in the workplace. Remember time is gold!
Why is punctuality important? Some reasons: 1) It demonstrates professionalism; it particularly holds true to the boss who needs to set a good example to his employees; 2) It shows that we care as employees; 3) It sets the day off on the right foot, allowing us to establish a foundation for a productive day; 4) It prevents us from setting back our team. (Medix, July 8, 2013).
In addition, Kimberlee Leonard (June 29, 2018) claims that tardiness should be addressed for the following reasons: 1) Team morale and productivity — morale in the workplace should be maintained at a high level. However, if some employees come in late, the natural flow of the work would be disrupted as other team members have to take on the tasks of those who have not come in yet. This is crucial particularly in factories, that is, the machine cannot wait for you. In places where change of shift occurs, waiting for your reliever to come may cause anxiety and discord. 3) Public perception — it does not augur well for a company whose employees come in late in full view of their customers. Punctuality is equated with professionalism, trust, confidence and community relations. 4) Evaluating future leaders — employees who are punctual are complying with a basic job requirement and are seen to be loyal, professional and ambitious.
On a personal level, here are eight reasons why punctuality is important: 1) It makes us better organized; 2) It shows that we respect others; 3) We are likely to be more productive; 4) It reveals our integrity; 5) It builds self-confidence; 6) It decreases stress levels; 7) It can help us get that promotion; and 8) It is the best tool for a planner.
Tips on how to be punctual: 1) Make punctuality a priority; 2) Know why we want to be punctual; 3) Track how long tasks take; 4) Use a timer; 5) Be ruthless in our to-do list; 6) Always prepare in advance; 7) Give ourselves a time cushion, an extra time for unexpected events; and 8) Be patient, ready and willing to wait.
Embracing punctuality is more than just an admirable trait, it introduces us to a brand new way of living that we learn to love. We feel content and happy, rather than frustrated and guilty.
So be punctual because it is the right thing to do and perhaps you can earn a prize for being the Most Punctual Employee.
______________________________
Author’s email: ntayko@yahoo.com
