We’ve all been there…  running late for work, hair is a mess and can’t find your keys and the meeting with the boss starts in less than 20 minutes. It happens! It’s one thing for that to be the exception. When it becomes the rule – when fashionably late becomes a recurring theme – that’s just bad manners.

Let’s face it, nobody likes waiting.  Whether it’s waiting for a friend to show up for a coffee date or waiting for your colleague to finish their part of a project, it can be frustrating and even disruptive.  Punctually signals to the other party that you respect their time and demonstrates acknowledgement of their value in both a physical and emotional presence.  Timeliness is not just about meeting deadlines or being somewhere where you have committed.  In the workplace time is money and missed deadlines (and missed meetings) can lead to costly delays.  Consistently delivered quality work product builds trust and fosters an environment of reliability with your colleagues and superiors.    The physical act of producing timely deliverables demonstrates commitment to the profession, respect for your supervisor and that you are a person of their word who can be trusted. 

Being timely should never be at the expense of quality work.  Rushing through and sacrificing the final product only creates more issues with re-work.  It’s important to understand the expectations, the required timeline, resources needed, etc. – relying on a balance of speed and accuracy.  I can hear my CEO’s mantra playing in mind… “work slow to go fast”.  Managing time efficiently by allocating enough time for questions and edits will go a long way in ensuring work product is on time while exceeding quality standards. 

Another important aspect of timeliness is attending meetings and appointments on time.  When you show up late to a meeting it disrupts the flow.  It can also give off the impression that you do not value the meeting, or the people involved.  To avoid this; plan ahead, set reminders, add a few additional minutes to your calendar reminder to allocate enough time for unforeseen circumstances.  If you still end up running late, communicate your estimated time of arrival, apologize sincerely, and make an effort to catch up quickly.

Everything today moves so quickly, and time is still definitive.  There will, at least for the immediate future, be only 24 hours in a single day.  How you plan that day, the tasks you can accomplish, the priorities you focus on are ultimately up to you.  People make choices everyday about what to do next, what to work on next, who to call next.  Give yourself some grace – you don’t have to busy every minute of every day – but you do need to honor your commitments.  If you are going to miss a deadline – speak up ... early.  If you are going to be late for a meeting – check in and provide and ETA.  If you don’t have a clue what to do next on the high-profile project – as a question (or two), don’t wait until after the deadline has passed.

Being punctual, meeting deadlines and managing time effectively can enhance your professional reputation and will build stronger relationships with your boss and colleagues.  I say, let’s embraces the art of being fashionably late in our personal lives, because a girl always needs just the right color of red lipstick prior to walking out the door, and prioritize timeliness in the workplace!

If you are interested in learning a few of my tricks and tips to stay on track – drop me a note in the comments section below.