Time Measurements

From the Results only work environment blog comes an interesting post about the benefits of not tracking time. Are there any messages for those who run schools?

TRACKING TIME = INSANITY

SEP 12, 2011 » BY Jody

Here’s why tracking time = INSANITY

1. If you get your work done in less time (less time = less than 40 hours/week), you’ll get more work (which is no incentive for working efficiently).
2. If you get your work done in less time, your job may be perceived as unnecessary.
3. If you get your work done in less time, you’ll get paid less or put on part-time status.
4. If you take longer than the amount of time you should take to get the work done (more time = more than 40 hours/week), you may be perceived as inefficient.
5. If you take longer than the amount of time you should take to get the work done you may get a promotion, because you work so hard (which is why we all like to brag about the 50 – 60+ hours we put in each week!).
6. If you take longer than the amount of time you should take to get the work done, you may be considered dedicated, hard-working and a valuable asset.
7. If you take exactly the right amount of time to get the work done (40 hours/week), you may be perceived as only doing the bare minimum (Hey, everyone else is working 50-60 hours! Why aren’t you?).
8. If you take exactly the right amount of time to get the work done, you may never get promoted (only the hard-working, dedicated people get promoted).

The problem with tracking time is that it takes the focus away from one thing: measuring results. When you take away time-tracking, everyone becomes as efficient as possible. Nobody talks about how many hours they work, because it’s irrelevant. And, time no longer has power as the currency that measures work.

For managers, the benefits of a results-only workplace where time is not a measure of work are many:

1. Results become clear as employees seek clarity
2. Work gets done faster
3. Communication gets sharper
4. Managing to results becomes easier than managing people’s time
5. Productivity goes up
6. Morale goes up
7. Voluntary turnover goes down
8. There is much less wasted time
9. Teamwork happens without team-building exercises
10. Creativity happens

The ‘Conroys’ of the world don’t stand a chance in workplace where time-tracking has relevance.