Being On Time
Have you ever considered that your lack of punctuality could be making your life more complicated? Coming up with reasons why you are late, making excuses to employers, friends and family as to your tardiness can make for a more stressful and complicated life.
You will have missed opportunities that could have resulted in promotions, a better seat on the bus, it can even have a negative impact on your driving making you rush, which can result in a speeding ticket or even worse, an accident.
The Importance Of Being On Time
There is a professional courtesy for being on time to an appointment, there are times when you do need to sit and wait for an appointment but usually it is with a professional who’s previous appointments have over-run. There are some situations like the doctor’s appointment when you do have to wait your turn. However, concerning other appointments, as long as they apologise and even ask if you would like to reschedule if it isn’t convenient for you to continue waiting is essential.
Nevertheless, people are late and this does cause conflict to others, it can show that you are unprofessional. It is important to show respect to others, if you are late for meetings, or just generally, late this will have a negative impact on your professional career.
Those people who arrive on time for an appointment show they are able to manage their time and their work schedule in a professional manner and often, for a person who is late, consistently, it will have a negative impact on their chances for promotion.
It is important that you respect another person’s time. They have given you a space in their day, it is polite that you are there on time and are able to arrive before the allotted time. If you feel that you’ll be bored sitting there waiting then take something with you that can occupy your time; with the advantage of mobile technology it is possible to work whilst waiting, alternatively playing a relaxing and quiet game on your phone is not going to disturb anybody and it could keep you entertained whilst you wait.
If you are late for a meeting, you disturb other people’s schedule waiting for you. This is not ideal, it will put others in a negative mood from the start making any lasting impression you might have wanted to impose on those attending the meeting, as one of tardiness and lack of professional courtesy. If you are not looking for promotion from your employer or a recommendation, then being late could be an option you use to lose employment.
In some companies, lateness is not acceptable and punished with a loss of time in your wages, a formal warning and even the sack. It is in your best interest of your future that you take pride in your professional life and learn the basic principles of being on time for things.
How To Be On Time
Being on time for appointments and meetings is not difficult if you learn to plan properly. If other people book appointments for you it is important that you teach them about being able to get to the place or to finish off a client’s work before the next appointment. If you are finding it difficult to have others book appointments, then reduce the time slots available making more time for the travel or after seeing a client, time to sort paperwork before the next appointment.
Knowing the length of time it takes to do certain tasks is essential. If you are planning to complete items before leaving, and you have the time, then it is important that you consider the implications of leaving late for a meeting and the knock on effect it can have to the rest of your day.
Therefore, if you are considering how lateness looks to other people and the effect it can have on your life, making it more complicated, it might be time to reconsider your own abilities and put into practice skills for getting to any appointment or meeting on time.
