When we think about our days at work, most have at least a couple meetings on the schedule.
When we expand this view to our personal lives, we have appointments, sports events, and dinners with family and friends.
Most of these have at least a start time scheduled.
This leads to the challenge of when participants arrive.
Typically, there are two camps – the prompt and the perpetually tardy.
My Story
I’ve worked with both types over the years. Personally, I fall into the prompt camp.
In fact, there were many years where my frustrations were quite high with those who couldn’t seem to get to meetings and events on time.
Then, the conversations started, and I learned a lot about the perspective of those who don’t have as precise a concept of time. Here are two thoughts that I found interesting:
Finish What You Start – One person suggested that if they were in a conversation or a meeting that wasn’t complete, finishing that conversation was more important than joining the next meeting on the calendar.
Skip the Start – Another perspective was rationale that the first five minutes of an event doesn’t contain anything they see of value. They want to join for the purpose of the meeting/class/event, not the filler at the beginning,
Understanding these perspectives won’t shift my approach. However, they have helped me understand that not everyone views the world the same way as me. This gives me more patience than I had years ago when someone pops in late to a meeting. Now, I start on time and flow with it when someone joins late.
Your Turn
When it comes to meetings and commitments, are you the one who is prompt or perpetually tardy?
Does the other group frustrate you?
What might you do to gain more of an appreciation for the other group and adjust your response?