Are you ever late to anything? Do you arrive at your classes before or on time? What about your meetings with students, professors, patients, clients, or employees? How about lunch and dinner dates and doctors’ appointments? Are you on time, as expected, without exception, without excuses, all of the time? If YES, congratulations. That's fantastic. I’m proud of you. In fact, you can probably skip over this blog, collect $200, and go to your next meeting, of course, on time. If your answer was NO to those 14 questions at the beginning of this over bloated paragraph, you should be totally ashamed of yourself. What is wrong with you?
In researching the material for my last book on time management, I was figuratively smacked upside my head with the time management gurus' advice on the most critical factors. Among the 46 techniques in my book, PUNCTUALITY struck me as numero uno. As you can tell, I was smacked in Spanish! I thought you might benefit from what I learned. (Sidebar: You should know that I'm not punctual; I'm early to EVERYTHING. I'm one of those compulsive characters who sets my watches and clocks 15-20 minutes ahead. When my daughters were little and rode in their car seats, they would look at the car clock and scream,"Dad, what's the REEEAL time?" They still scream the same question 20 years later when they're in my car.)
POSITIVE ASPECTS
Let's start with the positive aspects of punctuality. When you are consistently punctual, you put yourself in a position of power. Your punctuality makes the statement: “I respect your time as well as my own. And I want to be a power person like Ironman, Spiderman, The Hulk, Conan O'Brien, or Oprah. I want to be your hero.” I think you’re getting carried away. This paragraph is about being on time, NOT world domination! Oops! Sorry, I get excited sometimes.
Time is valuable and should not be wasted by delays for any reason. When you’re punctual, you can demand that of others. As faculty, administrators, students, and business leaders, you start your meetings on time and end them on time (Note: A future blog will deal with how to conduct meetings effectively and efficiently.)
NEGATIVE ASPECTS
Now, let's consider the negative side. If you are not punctual and make no effort to change that behavior, you have no leverage over others. Arriving late regularly to any appointment says: “I have no respect for your time. It’s just not that important. It's ALL about me, not you.” Wasting other people's time is insulting. You need to be whacked. How are you going to get anything accomplished if you have no regard for time?
Any one who cannot keep appointments may not be trusted to do other things. That behavior calls his or her dependability into question. That’s significant. Do you see where this is heading? If you can’t count on somebody in a clutch situation, there’s a serious problem. When she says “I have your back,” who will believe her? You better find someone else to cover your back.
Lack of punctuality can also be linked to integrity. Showing lack of respect for your own time questions your respect for others as well as your values, priorities, honesty, and moral soundness. All of a sudden, simply being late all the time can blow respect, trust, dependability, and integrity to smithereens. They are critical character attributes. They can turn into career makers or breakers and, maybe even worse, relationship makers or breakers!!
WHAT TO DO?
Whatever season of your career or life you are now experiencing, examine your punctuality. If you are habitually late to everything, STOP! in the name of your relationships. Consider seriously what you are doing or what others say you are doing and correct that behavior before it’s too late. Just a thought.
COPYRIGHT © 2009 Ronald A. Berk, LLC
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