by Ruth Klein
http://www.ruthklein.com/bpbc
©
2008
You know the old saying: "He'd be late to his
own funeral." Not so funny when careers and friendships expire after too
many missed deadlines by the chronically tardy among us.
Here
are Six Ways To Never Be Late Again
1. Reset Your Internal
Clock.
In today's hectic world, it's often too easy to convince
ourselves that we will have enough time to meet a deadline. Reset your internal
clock to accommodate your habits. If you tend to be fifteen minutes late for every
meeting or event, reset your internal clock to be there fifteen minutes early.
Ditto if you tend to be 30 minutes late. You'll welcome the extra time to read
a magazine article you bring along, check your cell phone messages, write down
a new idea or spend the extra minutes to mentally prepare to be at your best.
2.
Go By Real Time, Not Wishful Thinking
You can't wish the
next hour into becoming two, so be realistic about deadlines. Pro-actively letting
your boss or mate know that you can't complete an activity in an hour (when you
know it will take two) will produce more productive results than the trouble that
comes later by promising what you can't deliver. Be honest with yourself and with
others.
3. Make and Manage a Daily Time Schedule
The
quickest way to see how much time you will have in your day is to begin your day
by writing down all the tasks you hope to accomplish. Eliminate those you can
accomplish another day to give yourself more time to circle and complete the most
important tasks first.
4. Eliminate Distractions
Don't
let the threat of distractions ruin your day's schedule and make you late. Vow
not to check email, make a call or answer your cell phone 30 minutes before a
deadline or your departure for an appointment.
5. Just Say
No
Often, it's the inability to say "No" that
leads to missed deadlines and late arrivals. If you can't do more than what already
is on your day's schedule, politely decline and include an explanation for why
you don't have the time. Example: "No. I wish I could, but I have two appointments
this afternoon." Practice makes perfect, so practice saying a polite "No"
in front of your mirror.
6. Don't Be A Party To Others Being
Tardy
Others being tardy can make you late in meeting your
goals, too. Be considerate in your requests to others, recognizing that you might
be setting someone else up to be late by setting strict deadlines. Ask if more
time is needed, and be willing to compromise. Your rewards likely will be a stronger
relationship and a job well done in gratitude.
