The power of deadlines: leadership and punctuality

Why some are always late?

5min...10min...15min...everyone has a buddy in their circle of friends who is always late. And surely you know the candidates in your company who are late at their desks at least once a week and are the last to show up at the Jour Fixe.

For you as a waiting friend or as a leader, it just feels inconsiderate, disrespectful and sometimes intentional. But why are some over-punctual and others chronically late?

San Diego State University found evidence in a study that some people have a distorted perception of time. When subjects are asked to indicate when a minute is up without a clock, creative, laid-back people significantly overestimate. For them, 1 minute lasts 77 seconds on average. This aspect is intensified when there are no fixed deadlines and no consequences. On the other hand, they are able to work very productively under time pressure. Organized individuals have a better sense of time; for them, a minute is over after 58 seconds.

⏰ Good news: For an agile team, you need both characters!

More good news: While much is hard-wired into our personalities, our personality traits are more malleable than we think! So it comes down to sticking to a plan - with the help of an external timer.

This could be your role as a leader on your team, for example.

What you can do:

🛎️Schätze first be realistic about the time you need, for each task and activity individually

🛎️Formuliere then make a plan with intermediate goals: When do you need to finish one thing and start another?

🛎️Und last but not least: watch the timing and stick to the plan. By setting meaningful deadlines with consequences, we can change certain behaviors and improve punctuality!

💪 Let's do this! Learn more in our Digital Leader Program!