Perhaps, because of my childhood, I’m more sensitive about this subject than you are. However, I suspect I’m about to write a lot of the things that you’ve been thinking!
When I was a little boy, my real Dad was supposed to pick me up every Saturday at noon. He was always late… every single Saturday… for 13 years in a row. That’s about 650 Saturdays of waiting for someone that is always late. Time drags on forever when you’re sitting on the curb watching eagerly for a yellow sports car to come around the corner. Two hours later… “He’s here!” This was way before cell phones, but he still could have found a pay phone and called. It only would have cost him a dime, and I could have found better ways to pass the time other than sitting on that curb staring at that corner.
When we leave a prospect, client, referral partner or colleague waiting for us, we are sending very clear signals (even if we aren’t aware of consciously doing so):
- “You are not very important to me.”
- “Whatever else I was doing that caused my tardiness is more important than our relationship.”
- “I’m a very busy and important person.”
- “I am so in demand that my schedule is booked solid.”
In the age of smartphones, voice dialing, voice-texting, voice emailing and the like, there is absolutely no reason to ever have someone waiting on you wondering where you are of if you’re okay.
In fact, because of the convenient technologies, the negative signals are amplified by the recipient.
- “You could have texted me an hour ago and I could have used this time productively.”
- “An email earlier today would have allowed me to juggle a few things to fill this time.”
Even if it’s only a few minutes, I can guarantee you that the person you have waiting is filling that time with negative thoughts about you and your relationship.
Having written several books about personality typing, half the people (more Direct than Indirect) might say something to you and the other half (more Indirect than Direct) will think it, but not say it. Either way, you have created tension within the relationship that could have easily been avoided with a simple phone call or a quick text.
In business, your “personal brand” carries way more impact than the “corporate brand” you represent. Your personal brand is the adjective other people use to describe you when you aren’t present.
- “He’s the most (adjective) salesperson I’ve ever met.”
- “She’s a/an (adjective) business consultant.”
- “He’s a/an (adjective) boss.”
Your behaviors create your adjective (positive or negative). Words cannot create your brand; people judge us on what we do and not on what we say.
Being punctual is something we can control (99% of the time). Leaving early to allow for school buses or traffic jams is in our control. When, in that rare instance, we cannot possibly arrive on time (or early), we can send a text, email or make a quick phone call.
Ironically enough, I’ve discovered benefits of always being early:
- No stress during the commute
- Time to read or listen to educational podcasts
- Demonstrating to the other person (or people) that they are important to me
- Feeling better about myself and our relationship
In closing, I’ll gently suggest that when you arrive to meetings and appointments early, do NOT let the other person know you have arrived. Sit in your car and read your Kindle or listen to the podcast. Arriving ahead of schedule could interrupt the other person from another conversation or a task, so be punctual… not early!