Learning how to manage time while working can pose a severe challenge for many people.
Statistics have pointed out that amid the increasing rate of remote workers and digital nomads borne by the 2020 pandemic, practicing efficient time management is a much-needed skill in the toolbox of an individual seeking to boost productivity in the workspace. This is especially the case while working on the frontline where the long hours of work might make it easy to get anxious, drained or exhausted.
In the world we live in today, many jobs offer an option to work from anywhere, increasing the need for workers to develop effective time management skills.
The rule is universal, and it applies majorly to those making their return to hybrid workspaces and arrangements, and those still working remotely. It also applies to workers on the frontline (retail outlets, factories and stores).
People should find better ways to organize their lives to create space for effective, productive days, no matter their jobs.
What is time management, and why is it essential to frontline workers?
What Is Time Management?
Time management is what the term says it is — the ability to manage time. It entails organizing your time so that you can accomplish so many tasks in a given time.
Poor time management skills could ultimately lead to missed deadlines, displeased clients, and disruptions in the workplace.
Managing Time as a Frontline Team
Working on the frontline in any given industry means you are the face of that business, the first contact customers have with an establishment or a company.
That means your performance can affect the company’s brand, either positively or negatively. In the medical field, holding a job as a nurse means that many lives depend on you to do your job as effectively as possible.
In various industries, the expectation is the same. Frontline employees have the responsibility to show up for people speedily and efficiently.
Because of the efficacy in this line of work, learning the art of managing time optimizes the performance on the job as a frontline team.
Benefits of Time Management as Frontline Staff
1. Productivity is increased.
By effectively managing time and prioritizing tasks, one can get so much done in little time. It also produces the best quality of work. In the workspace, employees like this become rare gold.
2. Worklife achieves balance.
For workers, especially those at the forefront of work and who spend most of their days tending to the needs of others, it’s easy to be so lost in the job that it begins to affect other areas of life adversely.
For example, higher rates of issues such as divorce are often associated with frontline workers. Whatever happened?
Losing track of time often causes these workers to start spending more time on the job than they do with the people in their lives.
Having time management skills helps create a solid balance between work life and personal life. This allows you to perform your professional duties without ignoring your personal life.
3. Reduced stress can be achieved.
Ever heard of the term “work smarter, not harder?” Managing your time helps achieve better results faster with less effort without the overwhelming anxiety of looming deadlines.
Without the stress, frontline workers are afforded a chance to get better sleep and rest, and improve their health generally.
4. Self-confidence is boosted.
There’s a certain feeling that comes with taking control of your time. While others feel anxious and overwhelmed, the individual who manages their time well tends to feel more capable and confident.
This, in turn, positively influences how efficient a worker is on the job.
Time Management Methods
1. Using Time Sheet Software
Timesheet software is an electronic tool used to record and track employees’ working hours. It could be used daily, weekly, bi-monthly or on monthly bases.
By drawing up a timesheet template, employers can keep track of the working hours of frontline employees and measure the output at the end of that time.
2. Installing GPS Clock Apps
Because of the strenuous nature of their jobs, frontline employees tend to work overtime. They might not even be aware of it.
To combat that, GPS time clock apps alert managers when an employee’s shift ends so they can be relieved. These apps also notify when an employee is late for work, needs to go on break, or even takes a leave.
3. Delegation of Responsibilities
This is delegation when the right tasks are given to the right people without overlapping. However, it is easy to get job roles mixed up in the workplace, especially when there’s an influx of customers.
This only reduces productivity as some team members might burn out while doing the job of others and not theirs. Therefore, managers need to explain job duties clearly, monitor tasks closely, and ensure the necessary resources to perform these duties are provided.
Summary
For workers on the frontline of any company, the essence of time management cannot be overemphasized. Productivity, clarity on the job, and capability are boosted when time is better managed. In short, it’s a win-win for everyone!