Perhaps you’ve experienced it while in line at the grocery store: The person in front of you, while appearing not to have many items, takes two or three times longer than you would expect to get through the checkout process. What happened?
- They’re still shopping even as the clerk is ringing up items. Perhaps something that was forgotten has to be brought to the front of the store from the back. Or suddenly the person feels like getting some candy or potato chips. It’s never as simple as throwing an additional item on the conveyor belt.
- The person is paying with cash and there appears to be no understanding of monetary values. A $75 purchase total is paid off with crumpled and unorganized $1 and $5 bills. Change, which has to be slowly dug out of a pocket or a purse is also required. Much counting ensues. Invariably, the customer has miscalculated the total, which leads to more digging in pockets and/or purses.
- The person is oblivious to everyone else.
Unfortunately, these people walk among us. Perhaps they are related to those who wear the equivalent of suits of armor while walking though airport security.
Here’s the really scary part: On the job, some of us can be just as clueless and that will kill productivity. Here are some ways you can Clear the Path?of these highly annoying habits:
- Know what you want:?Our hypothetical shopper can’t decide when it’s time to buy and when it’s time to shop. Do you do the same thing? What’s your biggest priority or most important project? Are you focused on it or are you looking for some metaphorical candy bars in the aisle.
- Have a plan:?The thoughtful person in a grocery store thinks about upcoming meals, picks out the correct items, and has appropriate cash or credit to pay for it. There’s a clear focus. Do you treat your time the same way? Are you trying to buy lobster on a Hamburger Helper budget? Your goals should follow a logical progression that takes you to completion.
- Be aware of others:?You never know if the shopper behind you is in a hurry (or writes a blog). Treat other people as you would like to be treated if the situation was reversed. ?On the job, everyone probably fights a daily battle against the clock. Are your actions affecting others? When you’re asked to turn in work by a certain time, do you wait until the last minute? Does that create organizational stress that affects others? If things are taking longer to complete, let the waiting party know about it before things become critical.
Whether we are in the 10 items or less aisle or the office, our actions affect other people. Don’t be the person they hate to be behind.?
