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My Mother ground in to me to be on time. Being late means you don’t respect the people waiting for you.
Being organized is not one of my greatest strengths but I am always on time. I know the feeling I have when people don’t show up on time, take calls, answering emails during our meeting, or leave early or during the meeting – or cancel just before the meeting!
Why so serious?
Again, it is about respect. It is about honoring your commitments and the people around you. When you show up late, you are saying you were doing more important things or that you weren’t invested enough in meeting you to prepare and show up on time. When you check emails and take calls during a meeting, you are saying there are more important things out there and that you don’t have the attention span to engage in our meeting. Leaving during a meeting (unless someone is dying in the lobby) is just offensive – you are saying, “hold that thought while I tend to something or someone more important than you”. Canceling just before a meeting or not showing up – inexcusable.
Yes, there are always exceptions. Letting people know at the beginning of a meeting that you need to take a call due to an emergency is fine. The same applies for leaving a meeting. A crisis occurs and you need to cancel on short notice – totally acceptable (unless you have a tendency with a lot of these crises). What makes it ok is notice – letting people know.
I watch people talk on cell phones while going through the grocery check-out or going through security at airports. I guess I am just not that important – I focus on who is in front of me and take it from there. Maybe being late and taking calls is a huge cry for attention – honestly, take it up with a therapist and not in a meeting with me.
Think about the golden rule – treat others as you would have them treat you.
Do you want people being late for meeting with you? Do you want people to answer emails or take calls while you are meeting with them? Do you want people coming and going in meetings with you? Do you want to show up for a meeting and then find out it was cancelled?
Don’t commit to meetings unless you can be there on time and pay attention throughout the meeting. It is a sign of respect – when you are late and inattentive you lose respect.
Take a few minutes at the beginning of your week and day and be prepared for your meetings. Be on time.
That’s my rant for today. I still stress out being on time for my Mother.
PS – if you must talk on your cell phone in the grocery store, speak quietly; no one really needs to know.
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