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Finding Time: Utilize Time Conflicts with Coworkers as Strategic Opportunities

By Paula Eder

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 25Mar2008 Word count: 418 Viewed: 330 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Finding time is challenging under any circumstance! It's especially difficult when you work with someone who relates to time quite differently than you. You may find little common ground between how the two of you view punctuality, planning, and procrastination.

However, you can turn this to your advantage. Approaching conflicting outlooks proactively can enhance cooperation and productivity in ways that will surprise you. Furthermore, you can carry these skills into every area of your life. Cultivating these skills will improve communication and open up fresh options with friends, family and anyone else you need to coordinate schedules with.

How can you benefit by making the most of conflicting time styles?

Opportunity #1: Clarify what's of prime importance to you. Pare it down and negotiate for it. The strength you build makes you more resilient and decisive.

Opportunity #2: Attune yourself to others' varying approaches to time use. Genuinely accepting individual differences in time styles will benefit you in four ways:

First, accepting that others won't change for you spares you the frustration of repetitive and fruitless efforts to control others.

Second, when people notice you are not trying to change them, they feel more relaxed and receptive.

Third, when your colleagues feel respected, they are increasingly likely to negotiate successfully with you.

Fourth, effective compromising increases flexibility and clarifies lines of power and responsibility. Different time styles often reflect different priorities. Explore how this can work to your mutual advantage. For example, one of you might accept added responsibility if you can make your own hours. The other might hold down the fort 9:00 - 5:00 in return for not taking work home.

Opportunity #3: Commit to creativity. Thinking outside the box carries negotiations beyond rigid power struggles. For every problem, there is a resolution that honors the integrity and needs of each person.

Opportunity #4: Present the challenge in terms of shared goals. Keep the focus on the rewards you and your colleagues will enjoy. This stimulates cooperation.

Opportunity #5: Invite others to contribute ideas. The more invested everyone is in the problem-solving process, the more dedicated they will be to making it work.

Negotiating different approaches to time use will challenge each of you to grow. Rather than framing needed changes as a sacrifice, consider the benefits of identifying and honoring the baseline needs of everyone. You will develop vitality and confidence to encounter challenging conditions in ways that improve morale, promote effectiveness and save you time.

What is your next step to find more time?

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