JAKARTA’S TRAFFIC IS terrible, isn’t it? I’m typing this, sitting in the back of a taxi, wondering just how much of our own time and productivity we all waste because of traffic jams. Fortunately I won’t be late for my next meeting. We all lose a lot of credibility if we can’t keep appointments on time. And ‘jam karet’ (rubber time) is no excuse for wasting somebody else’s time.
At Aim for English, we know it’s important to be on time, even in Jakarta. And we prove that we can do it every single day. Here are 5 simple tips to help you do the same.
• Assume the traffic will be bad. Get to know the time needed to reach different parts of the city at different times of day. If it’s raining, double your estimation.
• Aim to arrive half an hour early and have a coffee nearby. This way, you’ll arrive at the client’s office right on time, and you’ll be relaxed and ready to work. Remember, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”, and being on time is a huge part of making a good one.
• Don’t schedule meetings before 10AM or after 4PM. This will cut the time you waste sitting in slow-moving traffic, and free you up to do more important things.
• Get to know Jakarta’s roads, and use the backstreets. Going somewhere new? Print out a map from free sites such as streetdirectory.co.id
• Check the traffic before you leave. There are traffic reports on the radio or, even better, there are live web-cams of all Jakarta’s major roads and intersections at macetlagi.com. Check before you leave, and plan an alternative route or allow more time if the traffic looks bad.
Every day, Aim for English’s business English teachers follow these simple tips. That’s why we have a 96% on-time record for training sessions held outside our Manggarai HQ, and that’s also why our teachers always arrive at our clients’ offices relaxed and ready to teach.