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Fix Your Chronic Tardiness Problem Effective Meetings Respecting Time Commitments

Written by: Carl Chesal

Article Overview: Tardiness costs the USA, in real dollars, $90 Billion per year. Chronic lateness affects 20% of the US population and the trend for Chronic tardiness is worsening since 2002. This real productivity cost starts with each of us as individual and really is basic to “respect for the individual”. Each of us can establish some mental and process attitudes which will serve us well toward “Being On Time” and “Never Be Late Again”. Here are some steps, based on personal experience, that helped curb the dysfunctional aspects of chronic tardiness.

Fix Your Chronic Tardiness Problem Effective Meetings Respecting Time Commitments

Whether intentional or by misfortune, being late for a meeting is, in itself, a visible sign of disrespect for other people's time. Think about the fact that your tardiness usually affects not just your own productivity. Your being late has a infectious multiplying factor because tardiness impacts the productivity of those many that are kept waiting. The impact in real dollar cost associated with productivity loss related to lateness are staggering.
Bottom line: 10 minutes/day of lateness equates to $90 Billion/year in lost productivity or 1% of the US GDP
Recent studies have shown that chronic tardiness affects 20% of the US population, Yes, 20% are consistently late. In 2006 Corporate CEOs show being late 8 out of 10 meetings. This alarming trend of Chronic CEO tardiness has actually worsened since 2002, when a study by management consulting firm Proudfoot, highlighted CEOs were late six in 10 meetings.

All good studies wouldn't be complete unless they categorized the types of latecomers. According to an ABC News report in March 2007, there are 4 types of chronic tardiness people:
1) Rationalizer type: Blames outside factors
2) Absent-minded Professor type: forgetful or disorganized
3) Deadline or Producer Type: Adrenaline addicted junkie. Gets a psychological high on having a jammed schedule
4) Rebel type: Defies authority and gets a high in keeping people waiting. Feel so important that feel people are willing to wait.
Diana DeLonzor, in her book “Never Be Late Again”, has chronic lateness types further defined into seven categories.
Bottom line: Whether it is a thrill or habit, there are steps you can take to reduce and eliminate your chronic tardiness problem.
How do you respect and effectively utilize the universally shared commodity of time?
Balancing your time with those around you is an ongoing challenge. Be vigilant about effectively using your time and anyone sharing your time. Your calendar, your day timer (or PDA) and the clock are intrinsic tools of the business trade. Learn to tell time, use timers and challenge yourself to get there on time.

There are mental mind-sets and effective meeting processes that can help you kick the tardiness trend (they helped me).

Consider your scheduled meeting times as just a center point of your overall meeting time. It is usually the informal meetings or contact before and after the formal session where most of the business or decisions are solidified. Always allow time for this informal contact.

1) Allow yourself 15 minutes before each scheduled meeting or event to:
- get your thoughts or agenda together at the location for the meeting
- have a quick meeting with the main person to review the agenda
- chat with the person who is setting up the meeting room to get information on the attendees. Executive Assistants and Administrative Assistants can be an invaluable source of information. Build trust with this individual.
- socialize and introduce yourself to the attendees prior to the formal meeting. You are likely to pick-up on the temperament of key individuals attending your meeting.

2) Allow 15 minutes after each scheduled meeting or event to:
- review how effective the meeting was perceived by your key customer (coach) or by an attending colleague.
- Take time with the key person (key influencer) to review the outcome of the meeting and strategise next steps
- Test the water and ask for the business. You might actually get the order. Alllow time for that too

3) Give yourself the 15/15 minute buffer before and after each scheduled meeting to allow for unexpected things. Plus you will less likely impact on subsequent meeting times. Early is always better than late. Arriving on-time is the most visible sign of disrespect toward the other people involved. For first time meetings, being on-time is one of the major positive impacts on 'first and lasting impressions'. Add to your good reputation – be on-time.

Including this “15/15 Time Wrapper” around each of your scheduled appointments and meetings will afford you more time to prepare/strategise (before)and then assess/close(afterwards). Reduce stress on both yourself and those around you. Your respect for other people's time is a measure of your own self-respect. Being respectful is an honorable trait - a trait that can only add to your glowing reputation.

Related Articles
  Eliminating Chronic Behaviors
  Can you have high accountability if you don't have consequences?
  Problem Solving: Don't Ignore the Nudges
  Chronic Fatigue in the Workplace – Why Your Alarm Clock Is To Blame!
  Commitment

Article Tags: chronic lateness, chronic tardiness, effective meetings, productivity, respecting time, tardiness problem, time commitments



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