How do I value other people’s time?

Developing a personal sense of time includes developing a personal sense of the value of other people’s time. 

How do I rate as a consultant of other people’s working capital of time? 

To discover my attitude to other people’s time, I will complete the following exercise. If a statement describes my attitude or behaviour I will put Yes if not, Check No. I will tell the truth.

Attitudes and behaviours to other people’s time

I took upon the time of those who work for me as an extension of my own, to do with as I please.

I frequently interrupt meetings in their offices, as I have first priority on their time.

I regard job descriptions – that each position in an organization has its own proper duties, responsibilities and authority – as a bureaucratic nonsense.

When telephoning anyone I never check to see if my call is an unwanted interruption at that particular moment.

I enjoy the sound of my own voice and I know that I am rather long-winded at meetings.

In the last month I can think of at least one occasion when I have kept someone waiting needlessly without telling them why.

I am aware of the quantity of time that my people put into their work (how many hours a day), but not the quality of the time they give.

I have never reflected on the fact that other people’s time is as precious to them – or ought to be – as my time is to me.

I do not show potential or actual customers that I value their time. It’s their money I am after!

I frequently miss agreed deadlines, I say that I will do things and then don’t do them, and have to be chased by others accordingly.

I will practice and learn in next 30 years:

Time – human time – is the most precious natural resources I have.

Time is well-managed if:

Things that ought to run smoothly are doing so

Desired ends are being achieved by the economical use of time.

Time is well-led if those ends are carefully thought through in terms of purpose, aims and objectives in a rapidly changing world.

My personal sense of time should include an awareness of the value or importance of other people’s time as well as your own.