Let's talk about the weather? But not like when we try to fill the awkward silence of an elevator ride with a stranger.

Here we are interested in relation to the professional world, that dimension in which it seems to deform under the pressure of deadlines, meetings, e-mails and multitasking. When we consider it in this context – at least to us – Dalì's soft watches come to mind. Because they suggest to us the idea that our perception and management of the resource of time can be equally malleable and creative. After all, if we are called Artémat…

Digressions aside, let's clarify: the ability to effectively manage time is not just a matter of productivity or meeting deadlines, but a fundamental skill for personal well-being and professional fulfillment. In the modern workplace, where change is the only constant and speed is more than a necessity, knowing how to manage time means being able to respond promptly and flexibly to increasingly demanding and variable requests. Professionals who excel in this skill are able to navigate emergencies and effectively establish priorities. They are capable of transforming "Crono" from an enemy to a precious ally.

From a sociological point of view, the ability to manage time is an adaptive response to the incessant demand for productivity and efficiency that has characterized the evolution of modern societies. We must (or want to?) do more and more things in less and less time. The paradox is that, despite the average lifespan getting longer along the way, we cannot take it easy. And in fact we invented artificial intelligence to avoid (hopefully) ending up like the multitasking Fantozzi in the scene where he covers the backs of his colleagues who are happily sunbathing on the roof of the Megaditta.

But here we do not want to indulge in scientific or philosophical speculations. So we limit ourselves to saying that, although time is perceived as linear, its management in the professional dimension is not necessarily so and requires the flexibility to adapt to changing priorities.
Let's go back to the Second Tragic Fantozzi and rewind to the alarm clock scene. To sleep until 7:51 and punch the clock at 8:30 sharp, the accountant's morning routine is a sequence of actions timed to the last second. In such an undertaking at the limit of human possibility, the breaking of a shoelace is a potentially catastrophic event. But the protagonist, a black belt in time management, does not lose heart and, with creativity and contempt for risk, jumps from the balcony to catch the bus on the fly.
Laughter aside, good time management allows you to foresee the consequences of your actions and plan strategically.

When it comes to soft skills, it’s easy to get into the realm of transversal skills. Time management, in fact, impacts several aspects of the professional dimension. Individual performance is the most obvious of these. The most “skilled” workers are able to place tasks and objectives on an appropriate scale of priority, reducing stress and increasing concentration. When you know how to allocate your time efficiently, you are able to complete tasks to a high standard, thus contributing to the achievement of company objectives.
At an organizational level, good time management translates into leaner processes and maximizing the output of each individual. Teams that do not procrastinate or waste energy on less relevant activities are able to respond quickly to market needs and adapt promptly to changes, maintaining a competitive advantage.
Finally, another important issue. Conscious time management helps maintain a balance between professional and private life, reducing the risk of burnout and increasing job satisfaction. Scientific studies show that employees who feel in control of their time are generally more motivated, less stressed and more inclined to maintain a positive approach to work. Often, however, time, as a limited resource, is a source of pressure - deadlines to meet and goals to achieve - which creates performance anxiety and fuels the most varied professional fears.
On the effectiveness of (well-crafted) time management strategies in the corporate world, a striking example comes from Google. When it implemented the famous “20% of time” rule, which allows its employees to dedicate a portion of the work day to personal projects, it created resoundingly successful services, such as Gmail and AdSense.

If we cross-reference the considerations made so far with gamification, new perspectives open up in learning and improving this key skill. Through tools such as our Business Games and Web InBasket, an abstract concept such as time management is translated into tangible experiences that make training engaging and, above all, effective. In our simulation platforms, effective time management translates into success in the game which, by extension, corresponds to success in the real professional context. Our games put participants to the test in timed scenarios that require strategic planning, prioritization of activities and rapid adaptation to changes. They practically reflect the daily challenges of the world of work, but in a dimension in which there is no fear of “failure”.
In addition to the intrinsic fun of gaming activities, the educational benefits of our gamification tools are tangible: improved planning and prioritization, increased awareness of how time is spent, and improved strategies to optimize its use. Our partner companies that have implemented these solutions have observed an increase in productivity, a reduction in downtime, and an overall improvement in project management.

Precisely for this reason, today, it is essential to recognize that time management is not just a skill to be honed individually, but a collective competence that can elevate the entire organization. Identifying it in candidates during an assessment and strengthening it in team members is imperative.
At the end of our very short journey, the lines from Pink Floyd's "Time" echo in our minds, inviting us to become aware of the finiteness of time and to spend it consciously. Even though Roger Waters and Co. wrote it with a broader context in mind, it sounds appropriate in our context too. Moreover, forty years later it seems even more significant.
“And then one day you find ten years have got behind you”. In the song, time is a metaphor for life and its inscrutable finiteness envelops choices in a sense of urgency. We can translate this thought into the entrepreneurial dimension, inviting companies to act with awareness and determination to enhance every moment available, promoting time management strategies that increase efficiency and well-being. We can support them in this mission, offering innovative solutions that respond to the need to train professionals and teams who are not only able to “keep up”, but also to anticipate and guide change.