My brain doesn't care if I'm late
November 14, 2011 5:10 PM Subscribe
How can I create a sense of urgency about being on time?
I have come to the conclusion that, although I have physical issues that contribute to my lateness, the main reason for my chronic lateness is mental. I simply do not have enough of a sense of urgency about being on time for my job, and thus live too much "in the moment" before work (in other words, I'm lazy in the morning, with a touch of ADD).
This job has no definite starting point; I work for a lenient boss who is in and out of the office. However, I'm afraid that I am starting to worry him, due to my arriving later and later to work each week. I find it a lot easier (although still incredibly difficult sometimes) to be on time for jobs where something bad might happen if I'm late. However, I don't want to play head games with myself about this (such as telling myself something bad will happen that I know really won't) because first, I can see through my own head games pretty quickly, and second, I don't need the negative stress and fear of something bad happening that I had on the other jobs. Those jobs were so hard to be on time for that I eventually got fired from some of them. Which is why I would like to do well at THIS job. Not that I'll get fired, but maybe someday if things keep getting even worse I might. Besides, as I said, I actually like my boss and don't want him to have to worry.
Could hypnosis help? I know from experience that hypnosis ROCKS for anxiety, but it didn't help me when I tried it to get rid of a bad habit. Could it work for something like this? Tips and tricks for being on time, like giving yourself extra time, help, but not enough. It's my brain that needs help.
Please, no scolding, for crying out loud.
I have come to the conclusion that, although I have physical issues that contribute to my lateness, the main reason for my chronic lateness is mental. I simply do not have enough of a sense of urgency about being on time for my job, and thus live too much "in the moment" before work (in other words, I'm lazy in the morning, with a touch of ADD).
This job has no definite starting point; I work for a lenient boss who is in and out of the office. However, I'm afraid that I am starting to worry him, due to my arriving later and later to work each week. I find it a lot easier (although still incredibly difficult sometimes) to be on time for jobs where something bad might happen if I'm late. However, I don't want to play head games with myself about this (such as telling myself something bad will happen that I know really won't) because first, I can see through my own head games pretty quickly, and second, I don't need the negative stress and fear of something bad happening that I had on the other jobs. Those jobs were so hard to be on time for that I eventually got fired from some of them. Which is why I would like to do well at THIS job. Not that I'll get fired, but maybe someday if things keep getting even worse I might. Besides, as I said, I actually like my boss and don't want him to have to worry.
Could hypnosis help? I know from experience that hypnosis ROCKS for anxiety, but it didn't help me when I tried it to get rid of a bad habit. Could it work for something like this? Tips and tricks for being on time, like giving yourself extra time, help, but not enough. It's my brain that needs help.
Please, no scolding, for crying out loud.
I am habitually late for everything. I've started building in an extra half hour to an hour to be on time. Even with that, I frequently barely make it on time. BUT it works out because I feel like I'm wasting time if I get somewhere early.
Since you have control over your schedule, I'd say the best way is to get on a stable schedule. Choose an ideal time to get to work, and then plan for getting there half an hour early. Sure, it's a little head game, but without the negative emotions.
posted by DoubleLune at 5:20 PM on November 14, 2011
Since you have control over your schedule, I'd say the best way is to get on a stable schedule. Choose an ideal time to get to work, and then plan for getting there half an hour early. Sure, it's a little head game, but without the negative emotions.
posted by DoubleLune at 5:20 PM on November 14, 2011
Oh -- and the added in time: someone I knew called it the FUF (fuck-up factor). He would add 15 minutes, but that just isn't enough for me.
posted by DoubleLune at 5:20 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by DoubleLune at 5:20 PM on November 14, 2011
I don't know that you need urgency, exactly. Maybe intentionality.
What does your morning look like? Do you hit the snooze alarm several times and eventually roll out of bed around the time you should be leaving for work?
Or do you get up with the alarm but get distracted with checking email etc and forgetting the time?
If the first, start with making sure you are getting enough sleep.
If the second, make getting ready for work and getting out your only morning task (no email, no taking out the trash, etc). Try putting some post-it notes around so that in the morning you see reminders to leave at the appropriate time. Set an alarm to go off 15, 10 and 5 minutes before you need to leave. (If you're anything like me, it's worthwhile to remember that if you need to leave at 8.15, you need to be completely dressed at 8.10. It's also worthwhile to add at least 10 minutes to your estimated commute time). At night before bed, ask yourself what you can do to make it easier to leave on time in the morning.
Attempting to whip up an internal sense of urgency has never worked for me. It has only resulted in me feeling more pressure and ultimately in being less effective.
posted by bunderful at 5:24 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
What does your morning look like? Do you hit the snooze alarm several times and eventually roll out of bed around the time you should be leaving for work?
Or do you get up with the alarm but get distracted with checking email etc and forgetting the time?
If the first, start with making sure you are getting enough sleep.
If the second, make getting ready for work and getting out your only morning task (no email, no taking out the trash, etc). Try putting some post-it notes around so that in the morning you see reminders to leave at the appropriate time. Set an alarm to go off 15, 10 and 5 minutes before you need to leave. (If you're anything like me, it's worthwhile to remember that if you need to leave at 8.15, you need to be completely dressed at 8.10. It's also worthwhile to add at least 10 minutes to your estimated commute time). At night before bed, ask yourself what you can do to make it easier to leave on time in the morning.
Attempting to whip up an internal sense of urgency has never worked for me. It has only resulted in me feeling more pressure and ultimately in being less effective.
posted by bunderful at 5:24 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
All the clocks in my apartment are set at least fifteen minutes fast. Yes, sometimes I remember and it doesn't work, but most of the time I totally forget until I'm out the door.
posted by coupdefoudre at 5:26 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by coupdefoudre at 5:26 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Reward yourself for the positive behavior of being on time.
If you're a fan of charts, make a reward chart and give yourself a sticker every time you are on time for work. After several stickers in a row, treat yourself to something - coffee, a new iTunes download, whatever would be rewarding to you. If you don't get [some number] of stickers, you can't go out for coffee or download that song.
Build the habit little by little. If you swing an entire week, take yourself to a movie or something else fun that you normally might not do.
This is the concept behind sites like Joe's Goals. Seeing your positive behavior in beautiful color can be incentive enough to keep at it.
Also, what's causing distractions in your morning routine? If it's the Internet, don't turn on your computer or look past any important messages on your phone. If you can't find something to wear in the morning, figure it out the night before. If it's your commute, then maybe you can find a faster route(?). Try to make it as easy on yourself as possible.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 5:27 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
If you're a fan of charts, make a reward chart and give yourself a sticker every time you are on time for work. After several stickers in a row, treat yourself to something - coffee, a new iTunes download, whatever would be rewarding to you. If you don't get [some number] of stickers, you can't go out for coffee or download that song.
Build the habit little by little. If you swing an entire week, take yourself to a movie or something else fun that you normally might not do.
This is the concept behind sites like Joe's Goals. Seeing your positive behavior in beautiful color can be incentive enough to keep at it.
Also, what's causing distractions in your morning routine? If it's the Internet, don't turn on your computer or look past any important messages on your phone. If you can't find something to wear in the morning, figure it out the night before. If it's your commute, then maybe you can find a faster route(?). Try to make it as easy on yourself as possible.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 5:27 PM on November 14, 2011 [3 favorites]
I have trouble getting up in the mornings. And yet, when I have an early-morning job or appointment to get to, I'm almost never late. (This means a lot more if you know me and have the knowledge of never expecting me to be on time anywhere at all.)
Here's the trick. First, find a good book (or, if you're like me, a daily crossword you like.) Your goal is not to be at work on time. It is to be at the Starbucks or whatever a half-hour before work starts. Stop making yourself coffee in the mornings at home to start. Take your shower, get dressed, and be out the door. (A good trick for this is putting your alarm clock in the bathroom, if that's feasible.
Once you're showered and dressed, you're out the door. Cut out the internet at home if that's at all feasible. (In the mornings, I mean.) Given what you've said about your boss, I'm guessing you have internet access at work, and you can check your email when you get in. Don't dally at home.
Instead, get to the Starbucks or whatever. Get your morning cup of coffee or tea or whatever. Read and do your crossword. Most importantly RELAX. You are near your workplace and will get in on time and not worry about it and instead you are up and out and have your own time now.
If need be, set multiple alarms (on your phone, computer, etc.) to let you know when you need to be out the door.
posted by Navelgazer at 5:30 PM on November 14, 2011 [17 favorites]
Here's the trick. First, find a good book (or, if you're like me, a daily crossword you like.) Your goal is not to be at work on time. It is to be at the Starbucks or whatever a half-hour before work starts. Stop making yourself coffee in the mornings at home to start. Take your shower, get dressed, and be out the door. (A good trick for this is putting your alarm clock in the bathroom, if that's feasible.
Once you're showered and dressed, you're out the door. Cut out the internet at home if that's at all feasible. (In the mornings, I mean.) Given what you've said about your boss, I'm guessing you have internet access at work, and you can check your email when you get in. Don't dally at home.
Instead, get to the Starbucks or whatever. Get your morning cup of coffee or tea or whatever. Read and do your crossword. Most importantly RELAX. You are near your workplace and will get in on time and not worry about it and instead you are up and out and have your own time now.
If need be, set multiple alarms (on your phone, computer, etc.) to let you know when you need to be out the door.
posted by Navelgazer at 5:30 PM on November 14, 2011 [17 favorites]
This job has no definite starting point; I work for a lenient boss who is in and out of the office
It sounds like you have no sense of urgency because it's not urgent. I have had jobs like this, and I don't tend to "improve" until someone actually calls me on it. (On the other hand, I am consistently early when meeting friends).
Your best is to actually create something that necessitates you being at the office at a certain time. Can you schedule a daily meeting or something for 9am or whatever time you want to be there?
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:31 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
It sounds like you have no sense of urgency because it's not urgent. I have had jobs like this, and I don't tend to "improve" until someone actually calls me on it. (On the other hand, I am consistently early when meeting friends).
Your best is to actually create something that necessitates you being at the office at a certain time. Can you schedule a daily meeting or something for 9am or whatever time you want to be there?
posted by drjimmy11 at 5:31 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Schedule something really fun for after work that would necessitate you getting out on time. For example, make dinner or happy hour plans with friends. You wouldn't want to be late for dinner because you were late for work, would you? It creates some urgency.
posted by unannihilated at 5:34 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by unannihilated at 5:34 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Secondingy phunniemee's suggestion. I started buying coffee on my way to work, forcing me to leave at least 10 minutes earlier than my 'ideal' departure time from the pre-buying coffee days. The promise of coffee (that I didn't have to make) and some minimal social interaction provides just enough motivation to get me out of bed and out the door within a reasonable timeframe.
If getting out of bed is the problem, try setting an alarm for 25 minutes earlier than your wake-up time and a 2nd one for your wake-up time. Leave your phone (or whatever) across the room so you have to get out of bed.
YMMV but it works surprisingly well for me. Each workday, I get out of bed to turn off the early alarm. I'm happy and relieved when I realize that I have 25 minutes more to sleep. Then when the 2nd alarm goes off (and I have to head back across the room to shut it off), I'm only half-asleep and it feels like I *have* to get up now.
Best of luck!
posted by brackish.line at 5:39 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
If getting out of bed is the problem, try setting an alarm for 25 minutes earlier than your wake-up time and a 2nd one for your wake-up time. Leave your phone (or whatever) across the room so you have to get out of bed.
YMMV but it works surprisingly well for me. Each workday, I get out of bed to turn off the early alarm. I'm happy and relieved when I realize that I have 25 minutes more to sleep. Then when the 2nd alarm goes off (and I have to head back across the room to shut it off), I'm only half-asleep and it feels like I *have* to get up now.
Best of luck!
posted by brackish.line at 5:39 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
When I was into my thirties I was a foreman on a construction job. I was a barely on time or a few minutes late type of guy. I had an eighteen year old kid who was on the crew and he was always there early and ready to work at the bell. He was my most valuable worker because I knew that without a doubt he was always gonna be working the minute he was on the clock. I asked him how he got like that and he said that on his very first job an old timer told him that if he got to work 15 minutes early everyday and had time to have a cup of coffee and then be working the second he was on the clock that he would always have a job. Nothing gives an employer more comfort than knowing that without a doubt you will be on time and working at start time. I adopted this policy and it changed my life. I have always had a job even though I freelance. I have been told many times how comforting it is to know I will be there everyday....on time. Would being considered the most valuable employee be motivation to get to work on time? I highly recommend giving it a try.
posted by snowjoe at 6:09 PM on November 14, 2011 [28 favorites]
posted by snowjoe at 6:09 PM on November 14, 2011 [28 favorites]
Breakfast is a good idea but I think what you really need is a breakfast date. Make plans with someone you like, as near to your work as possible, for about an hour before you need to be at work. Sense of urgency created, plus you get some quick hanging-out time and breakfast as a reward.
posted by en forme de poire at 6:47 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by en forme de poire at 6:47 PM on November 14, 2011
Also, are you getting enough sleep?
posted by en forme de poire at 6:48 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by en forme de poire at 6:48 PM on November 14, 2011
There are lots of reasons for lateness. Yours sounds like procrastination, lack of organization, and lack of really understanding how long things take. Time yourself to see how long it really takes to do your morning routine. Maybe you think a shower takes 5 minutes, but it really takes 10. Develop a routine - Up, make coffee, let the dog out, pour coffee, take meds, feed dog, shower, brush teeth, dress (in clothes selected the night before), etc. Make it a routine to put the phone on the charger at night, so you know exactly where it is in the morning, etc. Try it for a week. Give yourself a reward for every day you're on time. Even stars on the calendar provide motivation.
posted by theora55 at 6:54 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by theora55 at 6:54 PM on November 14, 2011 [2 favorites]
Stop trying to get to work on time. There is no such thing as arriving on time. You can arrive late or you can arrive early. Shoot for arriving early. (Then you can shoot for leaving early, too.)
posted by alms at 6:58 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by alms at 6:58 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]
I am sometimes late because I don't plan my stuff well. So, I have my clocks and watches at all sorts of crazy times from 5 mins ahead to 9 mins ahead. The only thing that has the absolute correct time is my phone. It sits in my pocket so I never really look at it.
It helps me to get a fire under my behind and get going. I don't remember which clock is actually 5 mins fast or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 mins fast so it motivates me to hurry.
I try to get everything I need together the night before and put it all by the door. This way, I am not lallygagging around trying to get my things together.
Most of all, if it is something I REALLY want to do, I am more likely to get to it sooner than late. So, try to think about everything in that you want to really accomplish this one thing and not be late!
I'm usually early or on time for work, though. I am obsessive about that. I am usually the first one on the crew to be at work because I can't stay late to make up for being late. What I do has to be done on time.
Maybe you should think about all of the times you did get fired from a job when you were excessively late. That alone should give you incentive to get your butt to work on time, you don't want to lose your job!
posted by Yellow at 7:01 PM on November 14, 2011
It helps me to get a fire under my behind and get going. I don't remember which clock is actually 5 mins fast or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 mins fast so it motivates me to hurry.
I try to get everything I need together the night before and put it all by the door. This way, I am not lallygagging around trying to get my things together.
Most of all, if it is something I REALLY want to do, I am more likely to get to it sooner than late. So, try to think about everything in that you want to really accomplish this one thing and not be late!
I'm usually early or on time for work, though. I am obsessive about that. I am usually the first one on the crew to be at work because I can't stay late to make up for being late. What I do has to be done on time.
Maybe you should think about all of the times you did get fired from a job when you were excessively late. That alone should give you incentive to get your butt to work on time, you don't want to lose your job!
posted by Yellow at 7:01 PM on November 14, 2011
I second the suggestions to (a) set your clocks ahead, and (b) seriously, time yourself on everything you need to do in the morning. I would also suggest trying this crazy thing: try running a timer on yourself that goes off beeping at you every 5 minutes. Just so you can see how you're doing, what time it is, making yourself more aware of how long it takes to do things and how long 5 minutes actually feels.
And yeah, get everything you possibly can done the night before rather than in the morning. Make your lunch, get your stuff packed up, lay out what you're wearing. Do the bare minimum you have to do in the mornings.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:18 PM on November 14, 2011
And yeah, get everything you possibly can done the night before rather than in the morning. Make your lunch, get your stuff packed up, lay out what you're wearing. Do the bare minimum you have to do in the mornings.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:18 PM on November 14, 2011
Since it doesn't really matter what time you're in, I would try to reset what time I need to be there back by an hour or two. Then, when I'm that early 1. People see me be early for a change and 2. As I slowly slide back to late it doesn't matter as much. 3. Rinse repeat. (However, don't let yourself start sliding back to the late time until a good week or two after you start this).
posted by raccoon409 at 7:27 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by raccoon409 at 7:27 PM on November 14, 2011
I read some of this book and my mom swears by it. It helps you figure out why you're late and how to reform yourself.
posted by radioamy at 7:28 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by radioamy at 7:28 PM on November 14, 2011
Find a park and ride for a bus to work? I've noticed that I prefer riding the bus to work to driving through traffic and parking, but I still have to drive about 10 minutes to the park and ride lot. The convenient thing is, if I screw around and just miss the bus, I can still easily make it to work on time by just driving. But then I have to do all the work. Bleh.
So there's that time buffer there - My target isn't "to work by 7:15 or DOOM," it's "to the bus by 6 or bleh." It's easier for me when it's not "I have to leave by X", it's "I WANT (really want) to leave by X."
So maybe the Starbucks thing before work would be good, but only if missing that would really bum you out. Or maybe if it takes you 20 minutes to drive to work, start leaving 10 minutes early and listening to a 30 minute podcast on the way. That'll make you want to leave on time, or you'll miss the end.
(Hm. Maybe that's the same thing as the reward thing. Only you can't cave in and give yourself the reward anyway if you fail.)
posted by ctmf at 7:37 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
So there's that time buffer there - My target isn't "to work by 7:15 or DOOM," it's "to the bus by 6 or bleh." It's easier for me when it's not "I have to leave by X", it's "I WANT (really want) to leave by X."
So maybe the Starbucks thing before work would be good, but only if missing that would really bum you out. Or maybe if it takes you 20 minutes to drive to work, start leaving 10 minutes early and listening to a 30 minute podcast on the way. That'll make you want to leave on time, or you'll miss the end.
(Hm. Maybe that's the same thing as the reward thing. Only you can't cave in and give yourself the reward anyway if you fail.)
posted by ctmf at 7:37 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Oh, and I don't think the setting clocks ahead thing works. My wife does that, and I've learned to not pay attention to our clocks - the opposite of the desired effect.
posted by ctmf at 7:39 PM on November 14, 2011
posted by ctmf at 7:39 PM on November 14, 2011
I simply do not have enough of a sense of urgency about being on time for my job, and thus live too much "in the moment" before work
I have a really random theory about this sorts of problems with motivation, and it's the opposite of this. My theory is not that you don't have enough of a sense of urgency and that's why your motivation doesn't kick in-- my theory is that you just need to reach a higher level of urgency than most people before your motivation kicks in. And so you need to create scenarios of urgency, stress, and anxiety for yourself before you have the will to act. After all, you're probably only showing up say, 15 to 20 minutes later at a time, right, not walking in after half the work day?
My theory is also that caffeine and uppers artificially create stress and anxiety, and that's why they work so well for these issues. Maybe try drinking a whole lotta coffee first thing when you wake up?
posted by cairdeas at 7:42 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have a really random theory about this sorts of problems with motivation, and it's the opposite of this. My theory is not that you don't have enough of a sense of urgency and that's why your motivation doesn't kick in-- my theory is that you just need to reach a higher level of urgency than most people before your motivation kicks in. And so you need to create scenarios of urgency, stress, and anxiety for yourself before you have the will to act. After all, you're probably only showing up say, 15 to 20 minutes later at a time, right, not walking in after half the work day?
My theory is also that caffeine and uppers artificially create stress and anxiety, and that's why they work so well for these issues. Maybe try drinking a whole lotta coffee first thing when you wake up?
posted by cairdeas at 7:42 PM on November 14, 2011 [1 favorite]
Can you set an alarm clock...at your job?!
Let me put it this way - I can live without little rewards. I cannot live with fear and shame and guilt.
What has made me on time as an adult is the fact that I can not be late to pick up my kid from school or classes. There is nothing sadder than that little face wondering where her mom is. No little kid likes to be last. Teachers give you the stink eye too. That gives me the urgency I need. I'd loan her to you if I could, but I can't.
And so, I'd throw this out there: If you set an alarm clock to go off at work, one that will go off and bother your co-workers and inform your boss you're not there yet, it might compel you to get there in time to shut it off to avoid embarrassment. It's not super-negative so as to stress you out - but it can be a "beat the clock" game you play with yourself. If you can enlist a sympathetic coworker to keep it from being too much of an annoyance should it not work or if you have an emergency, that might be a good idea.
posted by peagood at 8:21 PM on November 14, 2011 [11 favorites]
Let me put it this way - I can live without little rewards. I cannot live with fear and shame and guilt.
What has made me on time as an adult is the fact that I can not be late to pick up my kid from school or classes. There is nothing sadder than that little face wondering where her mom is. No little kid likes to be last. Teachers give you the stink eye too. That gives me the urgency I need. I'd loan her to you if I could, but I can't.
And so, I'd throw this out there: If you set an alarm clock to go off at work, one that will go off and bother your co-workers and inform your boss you're not there yet, it might compel you to get there in time to shut it off to avoid embarrassment. It's not super-negative so as to stress you out - but it can be a "beat the clock" game you play with yourself. If you can enlist a sympathetic coworker to keep it from being too much of an annoyance should it not work or if you have an emergency, that might be a good idea.
posted by peagood at 8:21 PM on November 14, 2011 [11 favorites]
I have no requirement to be at work by a certain time, either, and most of the time, my boss wouldn't notice if I came in mid-morning. when I found it was really hard to get in at a reasonable time without external pressure, I set up an automated email that went to my boss saying, "Sorry, I'm going to be late in today." It was scheduled from my work computer, to go to him at 9:30am, unless I arrived in time to shut it off. The potential embarrassment of him receiving that email more than once a week or so made a powerful incentive to turn up on time. After a while it became enough of a habit that I don't use this email scheduler anymore.
posted by lollusc at 8:29 PM on November 14, 2011 [11 favorites]
posted by lollusc at 8:29 PM on November 14, 2011 [11 favorites]
The only thing that has finally worked for me is getting up 3 hours earlier than I think I need to (so I'm up at 5 am instead of 8 am to get to work by 9). It has actually been kind of nice; also peagood and lollusc's ideas are amazing.
posted by Acer_saccharum at 1:08 PM on November 15, 2011
posted by Acer_saccharum at 1:08 PM on November 15, 2011
I'm not sure about how you can fix your lateness (I am on the other side-- paranoid about being late for anything, even when it probably doesn't matter), but I wanted to add a point of view from a supervisory perspective, which may help you reconsider your motivations and sense of urgency.
I once had a really excellent employee who was my direct report. He was talented and a productive member of the team. He was also chronically late. Every day. I noted it regularly and often chided him about it and urged him to mend his ways, and every once in a great while, he would show up an hour early, I guess to try to "make up" for all the other late days. It wasn't really a huge problem for me, as I am more concerned about people's ability to get their work done well than about their adherence to the clock, and I knew he could deliver. However, it did have an impact on other team members, and more importantly, when an opportunity came up for me to recommend this person for a promotion (taking on leadership of his own project), I ended up choosing a different team member for the job. His lateness was a big factor in this decision. It wasn't because he lacked the ability to do the job; it was because my recommendation would reflect directly back on me, and I couldn't take the risk that senior management would see him as flakey and disorganized as a result of his habitual tardiness.
So while the lateness was not a problem on a day-to-day basis, and did not jeopardize his existing role, it did ultimately affect his opportunities for more money and more senior title.
posted by amusebuche at 1:52 PM on November 16, 2011
I once had a really excellent employee who was my direct report. He was talented and a productive member of the team. He was also chronically late. Every day. I noted it regularly and often chided him about it and urged him to mend his ways, and every once in a great while, he would show up an hour early, I guess to try to "make up" for all the other late days. It wasn't really a huge problem for me, as I am more concerned about people's ability to get their work done well than about their adherence to the clock, and I knew he could deliver. However, it did have an impact on other team members, and more importantly, when an opportunity came up for me to recommend this person for a promotion (taking on leadership of his own project), I ended up choosing a different team member for the job. His lateness was a big factor in this decision. It wasn't because he lacked the ability to do the job; it was because my recommendation would reflect directly back on me, and I couldn't take the risk that senior management would see him as flakey and disorganized as a result of his habitual tardiness.
So while the lateness was not a problem on a day-to-day basis, and did not jeopardize his existing role, it did ultimately affect his opportunities for more money and more senior title.
posted by amusebuche at 1:52 PM on November 16, 2011
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posted by phunniemee at 5:19 PM on November 14, 2011 [4 favorites]