Time Management Skills: Why They’re Important
Time management has always been a hallmark of responsible and trustworthy people. In a lot of ways, our society has grown more lax with our general expectations of professionalism. Dress codes have relaxed and social media presence is more prevalent.
But time management is a skill that is arguably even more important in today’s workplace.
Today’s workplace is consumer-driven, and also full of distractions for both customer and professional. The demands on our time have increased, so therefore the skill of time management is even more important for success.
Regardless of your job, we have a few elements of time management to consider and practice – some of the main values we teach our dental assisting graduates.
Time Management Skills
- Punctuality – obviously being on time is a key indicator of seriousness and professionalism. Keeping customers waiting might actually prevent them from being your customers. Arriving or seeing your patients when you say you will makes a huge difference. If they’re waiting too long chances are they will just find something else.
- Preparation – this may not come to mind when you think of time management, but good managers of time know that understand the prep work they need takes them to the next level. It’s not about bringing a patient back on time; it’s also about having all the tools and information you need for them by the time you’ve brought them back.
- Limit Distractions – with a smart phone in every hand and limitless information on every screen, it’s easy to get distracted. But being a good time manager means being able to limit yourself to stay on task. How quickly can you get lost in a viral story on your lunch break? Learning to set timers or limits on your distractions can help you better manage your time.
- End Well – Taking far too long is almost as bad as being late. Ending in a sloppy hurry because you’ve got another appointment is another foul against you. Keeping track of time throughout your task helps you to end calmly and efficiently, without keeping others waiting. Try keeping a clock nearby or setting periodic alarms at checkpoints during your task.
These time management skills can help you to maximize the work you do, the breaks you take, and the profits you enjoy. Time management allows you to be trustworthy and productive, while eliminating stress for you and others. It’s just one of many skills that set our dental assistants apart from the crowd.