How to get people to deliver on time!

I know it can be frustrating when you are expecting a job to be completed by a particular time and day and it does not arrive. Chances are it is your fault, you created the situation. You gave someone the job and said get it done by the 10th. The 10th comes around the job is not done or the person doing it calls you and wants an extension, they are under pressure themselves - you get peeved and frustrated.

How do I know this? because it is a common complaint from many of my clients. The bottom line is simple, if you want work completed on time then give clear instructions that let the worker take ownership and deliver the job.

Next time you have a job to be done do this;

_ Bob I have a job for you, it will take approximately 90 minutes to complete. Can you look
in your diary and let me know when you have 90 minutes free to complete this job before
Thursday the 10th?

- Bob advises that he has 90minutes on Tuesday the 8th from 9.30 - 11.00am.

- Thanks Bob, I will make a note in my diary to expect delivery at 11am on the 8th.

This is not a warm fuzzy "oh thats great on paper theory". People are doing this and getting very productive results. It is concise, well directed and provides Bob with an opportunity to manage his diary and work load, and to deliver the job on time with out pressure. It creates an expectation that work will be completed on time and that you will be following up on this.

Simple clear instructions and the opportunity to create ownership can work wonders when managing people.