Billionaire Richard Branson's favorite productivity hack is surprisingly simple

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Richard Branson.

"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late." -William Shakespeare

To be more productive, Virgin Group's billionaire founder Richard Branson says you need to pay attention to the clock and get places on time.

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"Whether it is a meeting, a flight, an appointment or a date, ensure you are there when you say you will be there," he writes in a recent LinkedIn post. "This may feel like an old-fashioned tip to give ... but it has served me well for five decades in business."

He says arriving when you say you will is not only respectful to your hosts, but it will also allow you to effectively manage your day. "Once you get behind, it is hard to catch back up again. Being punctual doesn't mean rushing around the whole time," he explains. "It simply means [organizing] your time effectively."

Branson explains that this also doesn't mean that you have to keep a strict and rigid work schedule. You just need to be an effective delegator, organizer and communicator, he says. So, for instance, if you're doing to be late or unable to make an appointment, let the host know and apologize, or find someone to go in your place.

Branson acknowledges that things don't always go according to plan and it's impossible to always be on time for everything. "But it is always possible to try," he writes.

Read the full LinkedIn post here.