Time Management Tip: Be Reliable and Timely

Kishore

(This article is published from the fortnightly tip sent to timemanagement_tips yahoogroups.)

Are you not supposed to receive this tip two days back? Did you wonder what happened? Now that you are used to receiving the tips regularly, did you wonder whether your e-mail program had a problem and didn't receive your e-mail though I mailed it?

Yes, I didn't send this tip on scheduled date. I can give lot of excuses and say apologies etc. But what happens to credibility? Do you perceive me as a reliable person? Do you believe I am timely (Always on time, without fail)? Even one time delay is enough to create an impression that you are unreliable. See below for my reason being late and I am taking the opportunity of being late to convey what we need to learn.

As you know building a good reputation takes a lot of time. You should be on time for a meeting for 10 times before others can recognize the fact that you are punctual. But go to a meeting 5 minutes late only once you can be considered as a late comer and everyone notices that immediately.

In personal/individual life this is does not have many consequences. But in professional life it becomes an important factor. 

If you are handling customers, if you are managing a team or project, you are always required to be reliable. If you become unreliable, it will have impact on your company image or your team image.

One of the goals of using a time management system is to become organized and be reliable. Being reliable and timely has lot of advantages. It will help you build a reputation and helps you promote your business.

Examples of being reliable

- Keeping your appointments (99% of time and not 50% of the time). Even if you cannot keep appointment, informing others of cancellation early can still make you reliable.
- Keeping your promises and meeting your commitments: Promises and commitments are 'expected' of you and failure to meet them is bad.
- Ensuring deliverables are on time especially when others depend on you. If you don't deliver on time, others who depend on you are likely to get upset

You can make your own list of things you consider reliable.

Can I not get away with Excuses?

Excuses are bad. By giving excuses like I forgot, I am busy etc. makes others feel unimportant and ignored and they loose trust and faith.