Time is a resource that requires many skills like organization or planning to be effectively managed. Some of us have struggled to do so since the pandemic started, others since forever, and just a few were born with the gift of focus and time management. The ways we struggle with it can be very different and have many causes, but they tend to fall onto the same consequences… Doing tasks last minute, delayed delivery, having to write apologies for not being on time, getting late to the office, and much more.
We know this happens, we know when we are not managing time effectively, and that can be hard because when one is aware of the problem there’s no other path than to try and solve it. But sometimes, people that struggle with time management need a little help to get out of that positive feedback loop of being delayed. Everyone wants to get better at this, and it is not an easy project. But worry not, if you are a manager or supervisor, and one of your team members is struggling with this, some things can be done to help. Remember that time management is a skill that can be learned.
To help a coworker with time management problems, it’s positive to…
Be introspective
If you are a manager or supervisor, it can be frustrating to have someone on your team that always seems to fall short on time, and even if you are another member of the team, it can be hard on you too. So, before getting into any type of action or plan execution, you need to evaluate yourself.
How does this make you feel? Try to identify your emotions so you can regulate them in your approach to the problem. Are you contributing to it in any way? Sometimes we play a role in the problem without being aware of it, so it is important to look critically at our behavior, for example, a manager that assigns tasks to be delivered fast and with short notice could be fostering this difficulty.
Look for answers
Ask them about themselves and why they think it’s hard for them to meet the deadline. The issue can be simple and with a very practical solution, or very complex and require professional assistance. Knowing the person’s perspective is very important, sometimes they might not have an answer, which is vital to know too.
Our struggling friend’s testimony is not the only reliable source, but it surely is a very important one that we can later contrast with our observations or even other teammates’ comments about it. Be aware and know the problem doesn’t automatically solve it. But it gives us a full so we know where to start and how to proceed.
Communicate
Sometimes, communicating what needs to be achieved is a good place to start. But we cannot forget to also communicate the how’s. You might have a couple of things that work for you that you want to recommend to your colleague which is okay and shows your good intentions. But you need to be aware that solutions need to be tailored made and what works for you, might not work for them.
Flexible planning with some structure is a general idea that might shine a light on most paths. But to find the best-fitted solutions, there’s no better way than to be communicative about it. Brainstorm ideas, debate solutions, and explain efficient ways through some tasks but communicate effectively.
Get involved
If your teammate is having trouble, they might need a little push to get going on the right path. Now that you know where they struggle more, you might offer a helping hand on that. You could go through their unfinished tasks with them and help them prioritize, or even be there at the beginning of their work so you can assist in real-time with the issues that might delay them.
Some people just think that time is longer than it is and try to fit too much into too little time. You might help them by teaming up and letting them follow your guide on what to do next. For others an accountability chain might be enough, you just need to check up on them regularly and they will minimize the distractions and fall into place. It might not be easy to solve a time management problem, but we need to be part of the solution.
Acknowledge the progress
No one is perfect, and most likely, these changes won’t happen overnight. Expecting that they will be condemning them to failure. There might be fallbacks, good weeks, bad days, and so on. But to give it its best chance, everyone needs to focus on the progress rather than the result. Little habits might change and make big differences. Big behaviors can change and have little impact.
Recognizing, acknowledging, and appreciating the progress as it is happening can reinforce the new behavior and motivate bigger change. Positive feedback can drive people to better places, and much more if they were feeling down about not meeting the past expectations.
Time management is indeed a skill that can be learned, some people just need a little guidance. If you like this kind of content, don’t forget to follow us on our social media and subscribe to our YouTube channel, where we constantly share valuable content with you.
