Punctuality is the virtue of the bored.
–Evelyn Waugh, Diaries of Evelyn Waugh (1976)
What do you think of this? For those who struggle with being on time it may emit a chuckle. For those who adhere to making meetings and appointments on time it causes the rolling of the eyes. It is an excuse from some and offensive to others. Most of us are far from bored as we walk around the business buffet with plates overfilled and task threatening to fall off our plate at any moment. Yet, many arrive at their appointed time balancing plates of obligations, emails, and contracts with time to spare.
As I discussed previously, punctuality is a common business courtesy. No one likes to be kept waiting so a meeting which begins with a late arrival begins on a bad foot. While the person sitting across from you may smile and nod at your unpunctual habit do mistake that as forgiveness. Most will dive deep inside and try to remember a time they were late and gather some grace for the unpunctual. Yet, a first impression is set in the eyes of the one kept waiting. If one is kept waiting habitually then the excuses sound more like the adults on the Peanuts than actual words.
Is there a time when being late is excused? Of course there are a multitude of reasons one could be late that are perfectly excusable. Grace should be shown toward one who is late with a reasonable excuse. The issue arises when one is late for a first meeting, a meeting he planned or habitually late. Everyone understands being late as everyone has been late at one point or another. How do you handle it when you are late or if you are kept waiting? Tune in tomorrow for tips.