“You know, for people who spend so much time in meetings, you sure don’t run them very well. A 9:00 am start time should mean 9:00 am! If not, change the start time!”
I wrote. I meant it. I couldn’t help it. I was finally so frustrated that I wrote it FOUR MONTHS IN A ROW under the “what can we do to improve our meetings” category on the comments card at the monthly meeting. It all started so innocently…
When I was beginning my speaking career, I joined the Atlanta chapter of the National Speakers Association. I eagerly looked forward to the three-hour meetings on the third Saturdays at 9:00 am sharp. I loved sitting on the front row, because the group would bring in professional speakers from around the country and I wanted to be front and center and learn from those who were doing what I wanted to do.
But, I’m also not big on standing around and chatting – translated: “I am not a good networker.” So, I would show up at 8:58 am and make a bee line for the front row. And there I would sit – and fume – because the meetings never started on time.
Everybody else was in the back getting coffee, chatting and joking around. Eventually they’d start – at 9:25… or 9:30… or 9:40 – with three hours of material to get through. So, the meetings wouldn’t end at noon, but rather 12:30… or 12:45… or.
Finally… after four months of frustrated comment cards they changed the start time to 9:40 am and designated those first 40 minutes as “networking time.”
Great! Now I could arrive at 9:38 and be happy!
Dave ‘Gonzo’ Kelly
About Dave "Gonzo" Kelly
Dude, I’m with you. Starting on time is critical and it shows that you mean business. And please don’t penalize the early and on-time people who have other things to do, places to go and people to see by starting late.
Being on time and starting on time is about integrity AND respect – for yourself and others. Nuff said.
Oh, and this is not just for clubs and organizations. At Spelman College for Women in Atlanta, the motto regarding time is: To be early is to be on time. To be on time is to be late, and to be late is unacceptable.
I love teaching there as the students are always early. It’s the standard they set for themselves and the professors make sure they live up to it.
How I wish more schools and places of business would adopt this motto!