Have you ever booked a meeting with others, only to have them show up late? Or started a meeting, only to have some of the participants spend half the time checking their Smartphones? Or watched as a few attendees leave early because of other commitments?

Putting aside the rudeness of this behavior, it points to a single ugly truth: You – or the subject of your meeting – are not a priority.

Is there something you could do to change this? Consider these ideas:

• Only invite those who are absolutely required to make a decision. You can always send a “For Your Information” memo to others afterward.
• Schedule the meeting to be significantly shorter than usual
• Send an agenda beforehand
• Try a stand-up meeting; instead of booking a meeting room, meet just outside someone’s office, or standing at the water cooler.
• Set the ground rules, and then enforce them: start and end on time.

As managers we would never accept tardiness or lack of attention from potential job candidates, so how can it be acceptable from those already employed? It isn’t – yet the behavior must have been learned somewhere.  (Guess where?)

Does this topic resonate? Reach out to Randall: he can present it to your group.  (More presentation topics)
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