Who Owns My Time?
Albert BarraAugust 12, 2023 · 2 min read
It is a thornier issue than it seems. Time management is one of the biggest challenges in management (business management, self-management... it makes no difference). Because, of course, the first thought that comes to mind is that my time belongs to me, except for the eight hours a day that I rent out to whichever company I work for. Then it belongs to them. Or does it?
Let us take it one step at a time. Saying that part of my life belongs to a company is somewhat excessive; it sounds like those pessimistic, oppressive science-fiction novels such as George Orwell's 1984. Depressing. But then what? Does it belong to them or not? Well, it depends. It seems clear that if I am paid to do a job, I should do it, but what if I finish the job ahead of time? Am I paid for the work or for keeping to a schedule? Phew, what a mess!
Moreover, if I am primarily a manual worker, a labourer, for instance, I could argue that my intellectual capacity is free and still belongs to me, but if I am a knowledge worker... things change, do they not?
But do not go away, there is more. If I work in a hotel, who does my time belong to? My manager or the guest? Most people would say the guest, but reality shows us that it belongs to the manager. It is the traditional chain of command, in which the guest does not participate (nor are they expected to).
All this might seem like a quip, a more or less interesting intellectual exercise. But it is not, because proper time management—not only of our own time, but also that of our employees—will allow us to improve efficiency, reduce pressure on staff and sharpen our focus.
We need to know what our objective is and what outcome we are seeking, allow people to manage their own time and avoid disrupting the true “chain of command”, which must begin and end with the guest.
Time is not a trivial matter: it is where we do our work, where we ensure that the guest feels satisfied; it is the other side of space.
Only if we know how to manage time, for both the external and internal guest, will we be able to develop a successful project.
Moreover, if I am primarily a manual worker, a labourer, for instance, I could argue that my intellectual capacity is free and still belongs to me, but if I am a knowledge worker... things change, do they not?
But do not go away, there is more. If I work in a hotel, who does my time belong to? My manager or the guest? Most people would say the guest, but reality shows us that it belongs to the manager. It is the traditional chain of command, in which the guest does not participate (nor are they expected to).
All this might seem like a quip, a more or less interesting intellectual exercise. But it is not, because proper time management—not only of our own time, but also that of our employees—will allow us to improve efficiency, reduce pressure on staff and sharpen our focus.
We need to know what our objective is and what outcome we are seeking, allow people to manage their own time and avoid disrupting the true “chain of command”, which must begin and end with the guest.
Time is not a trivial matter: it is where we do our work, where we ensure that the guest feels satisfied; it is the other side of space.
Only if we know how to manage time, for both the external and internal guest, will we be able to develop a successful project.