Buzz
If you anticipate being late for a meeting, inform your colleagues and supervisor promptly. Upon arrival, offer a concise apology if they were waiting for you. If the meeting has begun, refrain from interrupting and strive to contribute positively. Whenever possible, be honest; if needed, attribute lateness to technological issues or traffic rather than resorting to citing major events such as family emergencies. If lateness becomes a pattern, consider implementing strategies to cultivate punctuality habits.
Steps
Minimizing the Impact
Contact the meeting organizer as soon as you anticipate lateness. Upon realizing you’ll be late, promptly call and inform them. Keep the conversation brief to convey urgency. Failing to notify others of your tardiness may suggest a lack of regard for their time.
- Exercise caution when calling more than 30 minutes ahead, unless you have a valid reason for the delay. Doing so might imply insufficient effort to arrive on time.
- Provide a realistic estimate of your arrival time. Avoid understating your lateness; if you expect to be at least 10 minutes late, don’t claim you’ll arrive in 5.
Offer a prompt apology upon arrival if others are waiting. Upon your arrival, extend a brief apology to everyone publicly. Demonstrating humility by apologizing to all will help mitigate the impact of your tardiness. Keep your apology concise and sincere, refraining from making excuses or downplaying the significance of your lateness. If the meeting has commenced, avoid interrupting to apologize.
- Say, “Sorry everyone. I didn’t intend to be late, and I apologize for the delay,” then swiftly transition. Avoid providing detailed explanations during the meeting.
- Later, privately apologize to managers or supervisors. While they may require an explanation, the meeting setting isn’t conducive for such discussions.
- Assuming tardiness isn’t habitual, other attendees will likely understand.
Tip: Refrain from excessive apologies. Repeatedly mentioning your lateness draws unnecessary attention to it.
Be truthful about the reason for your lateness. Transparency regarding your tardiness can prevent future complications. Lying may lead to requests for proof, such as medical certificates or traffic reports, which you may not be able to provide. If tardiness is rare, the specific reason may not significantly impact trust from your employer.
- If lateness is chronic, consider discussing it privately with your supervisor for feedback on improving punctuality in your role.
- If your lateness stems from personal reasons, such as a disagreement with a loved one or a health issue, disclose only what you're comfortable sharing.
Consider rescheduling the meeting if you’re leading it. If you’re running late and responsible for the meeting, opt to reschedule. This action signals to your team that you value their time, avoiding unnecessary wait times.
- If the meeting involves 1-2 colleagues in similar roles, consult them before attempting to reschedule.
Participate actively upon arrival at the meeting. Tardiness shouldn’t hinder your contribution in a meeting. Upon arrival, engage and inquire as you typically would. Active participation may compensate for your late arrival in the eyes of your team and supervisors.
- Avoid commenting or seeking clarification on topics you missed earlier in the meeting.
Crafting a Convincing Excuse
Attribute lateness to traffic or public transit disruptions. Traffic congestion or public transit delays can serve as plausible excuses. Check local traffic reports or transit interruptions online before using this excuse to avoid being caught lying by your supervisors.
- Avoid this excuse if your colleagues or superiors use the same route, as they can easily verify its validity.
Blame technical issues like an alarm clock or phone malfunction. Technical glitches with alarm clocks or phones are relatable excuses. Most coworkers understand the frustration of missing appointments due to technical mishaps, fostering empathy and reducing scrutiny of your excuse.
- Repetitive use of this excuse may convey carelessness or negligence.
Reserve family or personal emergencies for rare instances. Fabricating personal emergencies is deceitful and should be reserved for extreme circumstances. Habitual use of this excuse may lead to requests for proof, jeopardizing your credibility and risking disciplinary action.
- Never fabricate emergencies involving serious injuries or deaths. If necessary, provide vague details about a family emergency.
Exercise caution when blaming workload for lateness. Unless you have significantly more responsibilities than your peers, refrain from attributing lateness to workload. Blaming workload may imply incompetence and inferior organization skills, potentially damaging your professional reputation.
Advice: Avoid blaming a coworker, even if they caused delays on another project. Blaming colleagues undermines future support and cooperation.
Cultivating Punctuality
Adjust your clocks to display an earlier time. If lateness is a recurring issue, synchronize your alarm clock, computer, and phone to display a time 10-15 minutes ahead. This simple tactic helps counteract habitual tardiness.
Incorporate a 15-minute buffer into your commute. Allocate an additional 15 minutes to your travel time, whether commuting by elevator or driving across town. Arriving early provides opportunities for productive tasks or mental preparation before meetings.
Advice: When using public transportation, opt for an earlier departure to accommodate potential delays. Relying on a precise arrival time may result in lateness due to unforeseen circumstances.
Plan meals, outfits, and documents in advance. Inadequate preparation often leads to lateness. To avoid rushing in the morning, prepare your lunch and select your outfit the night before important meetings. Print any necessary documents beforehand to bypass potential delays at the printer.
- Set a reminder on your phone the night before significant meetings to prompt preparation.
