10 strategies for managing clock-watching

We may not have as many clocks on walls – but we still have clock-watchers!

Do you work with someone who constantly watches the clock, waiting for the end of the day? They are thinking, sighing or saying: I wish it was time to go home | I’m bored | Another hour to go | I wish it was Friday.

These are all negative “scripts” – that person is in the Negative Land of W – where they are wishing, whining and wasting time. Here are some antidotes:

1. Make the workplace fun

Make work somewhere people enjoy being, e.g. have balloons to welcome new staff, games and relaxation rooms, Pilates classes, walking groups, bicycles for staff to use at lunchtime, breakfasts together. Create team spirit with themed events, sports or performance competitions, where staff socialise together.

2. Recognise and reward

Find more informal ways to recognise and reward staff, and celebrate the wins. Nominate colleagues who provide good service, and present monthly awards, with major celebrations annually.

3. Ask people

Managers who meet with their staff individually and in teams on a regular basis usually have happier and more productive staff. Maybe someone is desperate to leave to get away from an unpleasant person that bullies them or makes annoying remarks – or sits too close to them. Ask and discuss:

• How are you enjoying your work?
• What motivates you at work?
• What disappoints you at work? What can we improve?
• What would make work easier, better quality, more efficient?
• What hours do you like to work? Do you need to work different hours?

4. Set goals

People respond well to goals, so set challenges and goals for your team. Agree on the steps to reach the goals and the time frames and milestones. People focused on goals are less likely to clock watch.

5. Clarify expectations

Make sure everyone is clear on expected results and deadlines, quality and teamwork that is expected, the flexibility of hours and roles, and any other areas of work that should be clear. Talk about strategies for downtime and overload.

6. Give feedback

Give detailed positive feedback – it boosts morale.If someone is not only clockwatching but performing poorly, refer to standards and values the organisation has agreed to. Give specific feedback about the non-delivery and missed deadlines, mistakes or lack of teamwork or customer care.

7. Well-being culture

Make sure your workplace values personal life and leisure so people don’t feel they are forced to stay at work long beyond reasonable hours. Many organisations now promote leaving work on time and encouraging parents to be more actively involved with their children, to be more physically fit, to be involved in the community. So maybe instead of fighting the desire to clock watch – go with it – find out what would be better for that person than sitting in the office and watching the clock. Promote health and well-being – it will be appreciated by most staff.

8. Negative scripts

Some people are in the Negative Land of W where they are wishing, wallowing and wasting time. These people have negative “scripts” or thinking patterns. Do a team session on the team’s negative and positive thinking and how this impacts the whole group. A team day away from the office is a great place to clear the air of negative thinking and make plans for the future of the team.

9. Restructure the team roles

It may be that the team needs an overhaul – with a shuffle of roles and duties to make work more interesting, to multi-skill staff or even just to prepare someone for higher duties. Ideally, no one should be so bored that they are constantly watching the clock.

10. Re-evaluate the physical environment

Some people want to go home because they are too hot or too cold at work, maybe their chair or desk/keyboard layout is giving them back problems or RSI problems. Maybe they are located in a thoroughfare, or near smells that distract them. Open plan can make it fun at work or more difficult to get work done.

The best way to overcome the clock-watching is to talk to the clock-watchers – build your relationship and implement many of these suggestions.

Eve Ash is a psychologist, author, filmmaker, public speaker and entrepreneur. She runs Seven Dimensions, a company specialising in training resources for the workplace.