You are the manager of a small computer programming firm with only seven employees. Rupert Johnson, a programmer who has worked for the company for five years, has developed the habit of coming in to work anywhere from ten to thirty minutes late most days. The other employees have come to you to complain about Rupert’s constant tardiness, saying that it is unfair that they have to take up his slack in the morning routine. You have promised to call Rupert in and talk to him about the problem.
When you call Rupert into your office to talk to him, he opens up to you and explains that about a month ago his ex-wife unexpectedly gave him full custody of his seven-year-old son. She literally left the boy on his doorstep one Saturday and disappeared. Rupert admits that he has been struggling to get into a good routine with his son. The child’s school will not let students arrive before 7:30 am and even if he gets the boy to school at that time, the morning commute and traffic will always make him a few minutes late.
Using SMART goals to come up with some goals for Rupert. How can he solve his problem?
write in 5 paragraphs
In order to help Rupert solve his problem of consistently being late to work, we can use the SMART goal framework to set realistic and achievable goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. By setting goals that adhere to these criteria, we can ensure that Rupert has a clear plan in place to address his tardiness issue.
1. Specific: Rupert's first goal could be to establish a consistent morning routine for himself and his son. This could involve creating a schedule that allows for enough time to get ready, drop off his son at school, and commute to work without feeling rushed.
2. Measurable: Rupert can track his progress by keeping a log of the exact times he and his son complete each task in the morning routine. By noting these times, he can identify any areas that may need improvement and measure the effectiveness of his efforts.
3. Attainable: Rupert needs to set a goal that is realistic and achievable for his situation. For example, instead of aiming to never be late again, he could set a goal of arriving at work no more than five minutes late on average.
4. Relevant: Rupert's goal should align with his desired outcome of being punctual for work. This means considering factors such as traffic, school policies, and the time needed to get his son ready and dropped off before commuting.
5. Time-bound: Rupert can set a deadline for when he aims to consistently arrive on time for work. This could be within a month or two, allowing him enough time to establish a new routine and determine its effectiveness.
To support Rupert in achieving these goals, the company can offer flexible working hours or the possibility of remote work. This would allow him to adapt his schedule to better accommodate his son's school hours and minimize the impact of traffic on his commute.
Additionally, Rupert could seek assistance from friends, family, or local childcare services to help with the morning routine, especially during the initial adjustment period. This would provide him with extra support and allow him to focus on being punctual for work.
Regular check-ins with Rupert would also be beneficial to monitor his progress and offer guidance or suggestions for improvement. By providing support and understanding, the company can help Rupert overcome his challenges and create a more efficient and timely morning routine.