Employers Guide - Dyspraxia Foundation

Dyspraxia Foundation Guide For Employers
Time Management Difficulties
What are time management difficulties?
When we are under pressure, juggling with
many things to do, we need to sort our
actions. However, some people have
difficulty with managing their time effectively.
We are all guilty of wanting to ‘put things off
until tomorrow’ or saying, “I’ll just have a cup
of coffee before I..”. If time is not managed
effectively, individuals become inefficient and
stressed.
People with hidden disabilities often leave
things to the last moment and this can
accelerate a creative surge and some brilliant
work may be achieved. However, from the
point of view of day to day management in
the workplace this may not be satisfactory.
How time management difficulties can affect
people in the work place.
• Work output may decrease.
• Causes stress.
• Causes undue pressure.
• Distractions in the office exacerbate
the problem.
• Creates bad feeling.
• Interruptions intensify the problem e.g.
people dropping by.
• Breakdown in communication.
• Organisational planning is jeopardized.
• When under pressure, people are more
likely to mishear or not understand.
• Personal organisation structures break
down.
What adjustments can be made to help?
Difficulty coping with interruptions.
• Use of a Do Not Disturb sign on desk or
door.
• When interrupted, the individual should
pause and write down what he was
doing for easy reference when
resuming work.
• Doing one task at a time and finishing
before starting another.
• Making calls rather than receiving
them. When individual is leaving a
message, key points should be decided
on in advance.
• Being available some times but not
at others. Sticking to a routine so that
others know when the individual is
available.
• Encourage the individual to be
assertive with people.
• Use of body language to indicate that
he individual does not want the other
person to stay e.g. standing up
when they enter their space.
• Discourage the individual from
having a comfortable seat by his desk
for colleagues to sit on.
• Provide an isolated desk for quiet work
time.
• Encourage the individual to try saying,
for example, “I’m sorry I cannot spare
the time right now. I’m right in the
middle of an important job. But I will
be free at 10.30”.
• Goal posts are moved and people lose
direction.
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