“just five more minutes…” (time management)

(part of the Total Quality Leadership (TQL) Skills series)

How an organization achieves world class quality excellence depends on its leaders within the organization, at all levels of the organization.  Whether your organization has just started its quality journey with ISO certification or are ready to apply for the world renowned Deming award, the critical success factor to world class quality excellence…it’s all in the leadership!

It is my (proven) belief that the leadership skills that make an environment successful are the same skills that we learned when we were little and playing in the sandbox.  The sandbox skill I want to talk about today is time management.

Procrastination!  "Tomorrow, tomorrow" is the death toll of many an important action.  At the beginning of every academic year, students (20+ years old) know exactly when their final term papers are due, usually in May, at the end of the semester.  I follow up on timelines right before the Christmas holidays, when they return in January, before they leave for spring vacation, and at Easter.  The question I ask is always the same, “how are we doing on our papers?” Inevitably, the response is a ringing, “great!” “Ok”.  “It’s coming along.”  “Still have 3 (or 2) months before it’s due.”

May comes around, as it always does, and this is what I hear then, “can’t you push it out a couple of weeks?”  “All of our teachers (instructors, professors) have loaded us down.” “Is it due already?” “We have to study for our finals.” “Give us a break”.

The avatar in my head pictures me grabbing my right arm with my left arm to prevent strangulation.  Smiling, I point to the timeline on the wall that has been hanging in place since September and remind them that although I am not their mother, I did follow up with them several times during the year with my mantra “don’t let it go until the end of the year.”   I could feel each of them patting me on the head saying, “Oh Miss, you worry too much.”

“Can’t we just have five more minutes” is a question we expect to hear from youngsters.  Eventually they learn we say what we mean.  “Now means now”.  It’s part of the life-long learning skill of self-discipline and moving past the “instant gratification” phase.   (accurate) Rapid response systems are crucial tenets of über customer service.  Customers, internal or external, need (and expect) it now!  Planning, scheduling, project managing, communication (written and oral), and motivation skills all play a part in managing our time.

The genesis to getting more time for yourself starts with the workplace environment you control - your office, your cubicle, your car, your warehouse.  It’s more than just housekeeping, it’s a mindset change of organization and professional development (O&PD).  Just a thought...attend the No Pain, No Gain, No Instant Pudding class (see button on the top right hand side of this blog) to gain insight on how to get back at least two hours a day of your time.

The next time you hear a child say “just 5 more minutes”, you’ll smile to yourself and be happy you’ve grown out of that phase.