The Time Saved Through Congruence

“The responses of others reflect not only how they see us, but also how well they feel we do those things that are important to them.” Stephen Covey

This is an interesting quote, one which initially looks as though (again) it has no time management connotation. But it makes me think of all those criminals I dealt with, the ones who went from hating the police to actually liking me. A few come to mind, including the repeat juvenile offender who I arrested numerous times, who one day said to a colleague, “I like that PC Palmer – but don’t you tell him I said.”

Build a relationship with others that is based on congruence.

Charles R Hobbs, author or the original ‘TimePower’, proposed that when our behaviours are totally in keeping with our personal and professional values, we are congruent – which is another worked for integrity. We can be relied upon to act in a certain way, and thus we are seen to be trustworthy. Worthy of being trusted.

Within the confines of the police station it means colleagues and managers can rely upon us to do things in a way that they have come to expect – in a personal example my supervisors knew I was willing to question things, but they also knew that my questioning was always backed up with evidence. They knew I was ‘good’ with using computers to find out ‘stuff’ and they knew that when they asked me to do something I got it done (even if they had to get past my moaning about it, first).

The criminals also knew I was firm, but fair. I never lashed out, I always treated them by the book and if I promised something, they got it.

In both internal and external examples, the trusting nature of the relationships that developed saved immense amounts of ‘will he, won’t he’ thinking time. In light of Covey’s quote, their being treated consistently by me was as much the bedrock of the relationship as were the actual mechanics of the situation in which we were involved.

When someone knows they can ask you to do a certain thing, knowing you will do it well, then there is a lot of time saved in detailing the rules applicable to that request. And in the case of the suspects, there was a whole lot of interview time saved, as well.

My advice, therefore, is to be consistent in the way you behave towards people. Eventually – and trustworthiness takes time to be noticed – people will know you well enough to call upon you when they need something, and at the same time know what part they need to play in the relationship.

You see, I also noticed that being reliable and trustworthy towards others meant that they would give me the things I wanted and need, as well. Not because I was manipulative – that is something I never wished to develop – but because they wanted to provide me with what they felt I had earned.

Being congruent is rewarding.

Believe me.