Proper time management is an important element of success regardless of the industry in which you activate. Time is money because work takes time. Regrettably, not too many HR professionals regard time as a significant resource and do not do everything within their power to make better use of this limited asset. Any organization where employees do not take notice of how much time they are spending at work is one that is wasting money and not gaining a competitive advantage. The following checklist will help you boost productivity. Being busy is not the same thing as being effective. Here are the tips and tricks you need to get started.
Eliminate unimportant work and manage distractions
In the HR world, you must remain alert and be ready for anything that might happen. You never know when something or someone will interrupt your work. Just imagine the following situation: You have planned the entire day when, all of a sudden, someone comes to you with a minor harassment issue. It takes more than a couple of minutes to get the problem solved. Knowing your priorities helps you understand what can wait and what requires immediate attention. Not all tasks are created equal. if you have something to do that is not a priority, such as a termination of a contract that requires you to drive through hefty traffic, you should better delegate.
It is very easy to get distracted at work when apps, gadgets, and people are competing for our attention. Your ability to get things done depends largely on your ability to focus. It is impossible to avoid distractions, but you can take better control of your days. If the interruptions in the office are not managed, you will end up making costly mistakes. Reserve regular blocks of time for work that necessitates deep concentration and limit technology interruptions. Do not spend more than a few minutes checking your email or texting. If your workspace is a little bit chaotic, make sure it is well laid and comfortable to use.
Determine the time you need on each project
There are several things you need to know to be able to estimate the time expected to finalize a project. To be more precise, you must get a good understanding of:
- The sum of things that the project has to take care of
- The number of people working on the project
- The expected time per component of the project
An accurate estimation enables you to determine how long the project will take and whether you will be able to get a commitment from the people who need to sign it off. It is recommended to track your time because the record of your work allows you to see if your team is going over their capacity. Additionally, you can push back if too much work comes your way.
Needless to say, you should prioritize larger projects. This enhances the success rate for the projects and clears all doubts for the operational team. Poor prioritization ultimately leads to failure and missed goals. This is precisely why you have to know what to tackle first. Approach each situation with preparedness and adaptability. You should have the freedom to move around priorities and address issues as they come up. The members of the team need to know exactly what it is expected of them to be capable of making time-sensitive decisions. Getting into a productive workflow will work wonders for everyone.
Invest in time tracking technology
Human resources metrics are paramount in terms of management. You can determine the number of overtime hours worked by the employees at any time and help them maintain a healthy work-life balance. Time tracking technology lets you see how much your team is working. If an employee is not present at work during a normally scheduled work period, you will know. Most importantly, human resources metrics enable you to bill clients for the finished projects and keep them profitable. Every project is divided into a number of hours, all of which represent a cost. Instead of deploying outdated processes like spreadsheets, you are better off investing in time tracking technology.
According to the experts at Timesheet Portal, in these times we are living, it can be difficult to manage remote teams. Thanks to the right technology, you can keep track of employee efficiency and productivity. An HR firm with numerous employees will need a more organized approach and a centralized tool. Time tracking with a pen and paper is out of the question. Time tracking software tools capture the amount of time spent on assigned tasks, which is used for automating payroll and client invoicing. Employees have to punch the clock each day. Basically, they log into the software and submit their timesheets, which are forwarded to supervisors for approval. Features such as budget control and GPS clocking are the icing on the cake.
Educate employees about the benefits of time tracking
Now, if you want the members of your team to comply with the time tracking policy, you have to get their support. Make an effort to educate employees about the benefits of time tracking. Time tracking software tools offer huge advantages for employees as well. Explain how time tracking lets them comprehend their capacities, document workload fluctuation, and allow them to share updates on their progress. This way, people will not get the impression that their privacy is being invaded. Overcome the inevitable skepticism and gain support from the people within your organization.
If you happen to be implementing time tracking for the first time, you may come across some resistance. There are people who do not like to complete timesheets and are not comfortable with the thought of being monitored. The question is: How do you get people on board with time tracking? Besides making everything convenient by adopting the latest technological solution, explain the justification. People need to know why you have decided to implement time tracking right now. They want to be treated like humans, not robots.