What is being late? And why does it matter? What are the symptoms of being late? What excuses do we use for being late? What are the consequences of being late? Most importantly, what are the solutions so we can be on time?
The dictionary definition of late is “arriving after the expected, proper, or usual time.” We be late for appointments, meetings, dinners, coffee catch-ups, Zoom/Teams/GoToMeeting calls, or picking up our child from school.
Why does being late matter? It matters because the message it sends, when you are late, is “you are not as important to me as something else”. Actions speak louder than words: they show what your priorities are and, what you most value.
Why are we late?
Sometimes it is sudden events and interruptions like an accident, a sick child, or a natural disaster. But most often it is distractions or an over-packed schedule. Have you ever been so fixated on a project or a task that you’ve lost track of the time? Have you ever said to yourself: “Just one more…I’m sure I can fit in just one more…just one more email, video, phone call”, and then ended up being late? Why do we do that? What task (or person) could more important than being on time for Tom/Mary/my son/ my daughter/my significant other?
And then there are the excuses or justifications. Do you continually make excuses for not being on time? In life, you get results or reasons – you can’t have both. We think a brief “sorry I’m late” fixes it, but the consequences of being late can be serious. People feel disrespected. It affects the trust in the relationship. It could affect future business. Everyone is a client. There are both internal and external clients/customers.
So, how do we get better at being on time?
Firstly, it takes a paradigms shift, from, “It’s all about me” to, “It’s about others”. It’s about being considerate. It’s the mammoth difference between self-importance and the other person/people being important.
Here are some practical ways to get better at being on time:
- Take responsibility. “I didn’t realise the time” and “Sorry I’m late” just don’t cut it.
- Keep your agreements with yourself and others. Have integrity. Doing what you said you were going to do.
- Schedule tasks by asking yourself, “What can I get done in the time available before I have to meet Tom/be at my appointment/attend the meeting?”
- Set alarms, and when alarm go off, have the discipline to stop and leave. Jocko Willink, in his book Extreme Ownership, says he sets three alarms to get out of bed of a morning, in case one fails. He has a windup alarm, a battery alarm and electric alarm.
- Decide what to prioritise, well in advance, by having A priorities (must get done beforehand) and B priorities (can wait until after). Make the A’s important and plan the B’s around them.
- Have boundaries in place when interruptions happen, such as when other staff want to ‘steal’ your valuable time. NO is a very powerful tool. Saying “no”, or “not now” is a clear boundary. Someone else’s ‘urgent’ doesn’t have to become your ‘important’. Saying “no” with diplomacy and tact takes practice, but it’s all about how you communicate. When it comes to distractions and unhelpful habits, respect your own boundaries – say “no” to yourself.
- Make yourself accountable to someone. Get support. Be supportable. Don’t rely on you to keep yourself on course. Find an accountability ‘buddy’. Get support from someone you trust – someone who will give you honest feedback.
- Have a clock visible so you can keep track of the time. Use it to help you arrive on time.
- Make time. Can you manufacture more time? No. What you can do is change your schedule and priorities to make room for the tasks you want to undertake and the results you want to create…such as being on time.
- Start and finish your meetings on time, allowing space to get to the next meeting.
The next time you are late, ask yourself this question, “What did you make more important than being on time?” I promise you the answer will be illuminating and might just change your life and relationships. Don’t be rude, be reliable. People in your business world and your personal world will love you for it.
