I am writing this blog while waiting for an 8 am phone meeting to begin. It’s now 4 minutes after the top of the hour and the call organizer has yet to show.
I get it. People are busy, blah blah blah. But here’s the thing:
A. My time is being wasted;
B. This is a recurring call. Next time, I’ll know not to show up on time. Or at all.
Both of these points are irritating. And unnecessary. Call me crazy but 8 o’clock meetings should start at, oh, I don’t know, at 8 o’clock.
It’s 8:09 am. No organizer yet.
Not starting on time seems like a minor point to the non-OCD but it sends the wrong message. It enables late-shows to show late and reinforces their bad habits.
8:13 am. Nothing.
The best meetings start on time, end on time, and have a little space in between. The coffee shouldn’t get cold. Bring an agenda. Run the agenda. Stay on topic. Move on.
I saw a great comic strip years ago: People are filing out of a conference room and a voice is yelling from behind them, “And we’ll keep having these meetings until we figure out why nothing gets done around here!”
8:17 am. Nope.
This meeting occurs every other week. Next time, I’ll show late…and I bet I’ll STILL be early!
8:19 am. Click.
