How to use a visual timer at the workplace: 5 ideas

Time management is an important factor of getting things done. The PowerPoint Timer is a powerful tool to use at the workplace for that instance. Whether you are a scrum master in a fancy start-up or sipping your filtered coffee in a cubicle: here are 5 ideas to implement the visual timer to get the best out of your team.

1. Presentation

The first and most obvious way to use the PowerPoint Timer at the workplace is what you use PowerPoint most for: a presentation. Especially when multiple employees or teams need to pitch their ideas or findings, a timer is very helpful to manage time. Just add a timer to your slides and everyone knows how many time they have left. Time is money, friend!

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2. Reflection

This one is applicable to a presentation, but also to a meeting or stand-up. Do you want to create impact, let your employees reflect on a certain matter, or let them come up with creative ideas? Give their brains an incentive by setting up a visual timer. A time limit creates urgence and stimulates participation. For example, set a 1 minute PowerPoint Timer and let your team think about…

• What are your 5 most ideal potential clients?
• How can we manage this problem?
• Are you happy in the workplace? What should happen to improve your satisfaction?
• Etc.

After some reflection in silence, everyone can share their thoughts.

3. Brainstorm

The brainstorm works according to the same principle, but out loud. Let your employees or coworkers put their heads together – maybe divide them into small groups – and come up with ideas and solutions. With a set time, they won’t get too distracted. You’ll see!

4. Stand-up

In some workplaces, stand-ups are a daily necessity (talking to you, scrum!). How far are we on this project? Who needs some extra tasks, and who can need a hand? To manage this recurring stand-ups, a visual timer is indispensable. No need to design a complete presentation, just one PowerPoint slide with a timer is sufficient. Scrum meetings are strictly time-boxed to 15 minutes, but hey, we live in a free country – you can take as long or short as you want.

5. Focus time (and pause)

When you’re working together on a larger project where utmost concentration is needed, it can be really conducive to show a timer visible to everyone. Agree upon certain rules beforehand, like: during the two hour block, we can’t interrupt each other.

How patronizing it may sound, setting a timer for a break can also be very helpful. It stimulates your coworkers to actually take that break, drink some coffee and go for a walk outside. And after a refreshing 20 minute pause, you can easily pick up the threads.

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