Are You Punctually Challenged or Know Someone Who Is?

Punctually challenged is just a politically correct way of saying, "I'm always late." 

Have you ever sat down and gave serious thought to the reasons why you're late? Have you thought about the message you're sending to others when you arrive late to appointments and events?

Obviously, this is rude but I believe there are two main factors that contribute to someone not being on time:

1.  Agenda Overload - you have too much on your plate.
2.  You don't make good use of your time.

These two things are valid reasons - not excuses. Excuses are what you give when you come in apologizing and explaining why you're late. You know, things like "I got lost...my other appointment ran over...I spent 15 minutes trying to park." Regardless, all of these factors are within your control. You can correct this pattern. And yes, if you've been late three or more times, it's definitely a bad habit that needs to be corrected.

First, you must understand that being on time is a conscience decision you make. Let's get a bit deeper for a second. People who are late are also procrastinators. They wait until the last minute to start and finish projects and rush to beat deadlines. All of this behavior is a learned, lifelong pattern. You are choosing to put things off and you need to get to the root of why you're doing so.

How do you deal with the Late Lucy/Larry in your network?

set a grace period - You know how the doctor's office has that 10-15 minute window that states if you arrive beyond that you may not be seen? Decide how long you're going to wait for late comers  before you proceed with the meeting. Once you've done that, stick with it and don't allow any exceptions.

communicate the costs - What does Tardy Tina stand to lose or gain by being on time? Being late guarantees that you're going to miss some important information. Let people know that whatever they missed won't be repeated. One of the payoffs of being on time is the feeling you give others that says you value and respect their time.

coach the offender(s) - Don't punish the entire group. Talk to the specific individual and let them know that their reputation is on the line. Late people are looked at as not being dependable, reliable, or organized. Is this what you want attached to your personal brand? Of course not.

If you're someone who struggles with being on time, I want you to do the following exercise:

Start a "Late Log" and document your answers. Ask yourself:

• How late was I?
• What prevented me from arriving on time?
• Is this a legit reason or an excuse?
• What can I do differently to break my cycle of tardiness?

Let me hear your thoughts and suggestions. What else can we do to get folks to arrive 5 minutes early instead of 10 minutes late?

 
Photo credit: Eureeka's Window