Time Management Tip: Late to Work

In the last corporate job I had, I typically got in 30 minutes late. I always blamed it on the subway trains. And it was true, because NYC subways (especially the line I was on) were a mess in the morning.

What I always neglected to add, though, was that I probably definitely would have been late even if the subways were running on time.

Fortunately, I had a great boss for much of my run there. He'd smile at me when I hurriedly rushed through the door at 9.30am and in his thick Austrian accent he'd say, "Zose damn trains again, huh?"

He didn't care if I got in late as long as I was doing a good job.

One of my favorite books is Tim Ferriss' The 4-Hour Workweek. I came across this a gem of a tip on his blog today:    

Stop justifying your time. Let’s say you walk in five minutes “late” one day. Instead of explaining that traffic was a nightmare or your kids made you late, just go to work. And if someone sludges you (“Oh, look who decided to show up today”) then focus on the work. A simple “what do you need” or “what can I help you with” does a great job of eliminating it. People can’t slam you about your time if you focus on the work.

This is language that adults with ADD can really embrace.

Many of us have difficulty arriving to work on time each day. And most of us will instantly launch into an apology and an explanation.

But that makes you look--and feel--guilty and inadequate. Shifting the focus onto results, as Tim suggests, in one of the best ideas I've come across.

Like this tip but need a little more help with time management? Join me for the Time Management Masters Seminar--specifically for adults with ADD. Begins June 3!