COMPLIANCE
Effective time management
H ave you ever felt like there aren’t enough hours in the working day? Have you found yourself re-scheduling meetings and tasks for the following week to buy yourself that extra hour or two? Well, I don’t have a time stone (for all you Marvel fans out there) to help stop and rewind the minutes, but I do have a quick guide to inspire and help you to manage your time effectively. So, what exactly is time management? Time management is the practice and study of using the time you have available in a useful and effective way. Time management is an underestimated soft skill which should be essential in our everyday lives. Some of the benefits of time being managed well include: l a better work-life balance l greater task control l less stress levels l more opportunities to do the things that can further your career. Conversely, poor time management can result in: l procrastination l higher stress levels l unsatisfactory work quality l missed deadlines l poor work relationships. Time management is essential for the payroll professional Payroll is no simple task and the reality of managing time is essential for not only the individual, but also the company, the customer, the team and wider teams in the organisation. Where effective time management is used in the payroll department, it enhances productivity and workflow practices, enables room for growth and expansion and provides a sense of well- being and achievement for both individuals and the team. The way we spend our time defines who we are both personally and professionally, whether that be remote or in an office-based environment. As John F. Kennedy said, “we must use time as a tool, not as a couch”. Efficient time management frees resources and time for other important areas of concern in a team
or department and it also allows businesses to better meet strategic demands. As we progressively move into a more tech-savvy and fast paced domain, in payroll it’s all about working smart. However, before we explore the theme further, it’s important to note that processes and policies vary from organisation to organisation. Top tips Here are some of my top tips, which I found useful during my time in operational payroll: l start your work day with ranking tasks from high to low priority. Use your organisation’s service level agreements to help with this l create a ‘to-do-list’ at the start of your work day and ensure you review this at the end of the day, noting any unfinished tasks to be carried forward to the next working day l create a payroll calendar / timetable with reminders of deadlines for real time information submissions, pay dates and ‘data due in’ dates l block out time for lengthy projects in your calendar so colleagues are aware you may not be readily available at certain times l use the ‘do not disturb’ status during client calls or urgent tasks – don’t feel guilty l eliminate any distractions l take regular breaks to replenish l document your payroll processes – not only is this beneficial for you but also for the team, new staff and any business audits l make the most of technology – automate processes where you can l communicate with your team and line manager about your workload or portfolio of clients, which will help in finding a balance. Mastering the art of time management will mean a positive change to our day-to- day lives, which will subsequently allow us to motivate and help others. Time plays an important role in our working lives and by adopting useful time management techniques, you’ll follow the concept of working smarter and not harder (or, even, longer). There isn’t a ‘one-size-fits- all’ approach but educating yourself and learning about various time management tips can work wonders. n
Meena Salhan MCIPPdip, policy and research officer at the CIPP, lets us into her top time management hints and tips which you can use in your day-to-day role
“Time management is an underestimated soft skill which should be essential in our everyday lives”
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | May 2023 | Issue 90 20
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