Etiquette Friday – Being Late & Not Apologising

It’s Friday and the day I request you join me in my campaign for 2012 to change “Casual Friday” to “Etiquette Friday”, to get people and companies involved. If we consciously make an effort every Friday then hopefully it will become a habit every day. I challenge you to make one small change a week and by the end of the year let’s hope we have a more pleasant and positive society.

Some people always seem to be late, no matter what they are doing. Occasionally it cannot be helped e.g. stuck in traffic, an accident, held up in another meeting. Whatever the cause it is rude not to apologise and shows disrespect for other people’s time.

Some people are sticklers for time and will ensure they arrive early whilst others regularly run late and are what I call “time pinchers”. In my book about wardrobe personality I mention that casual personalities are known for being late as they are less organised. When you are on time it shows you value your time and that of others.

Be well organised and plan ahead and on the occasions you are late, telephone ahead that you are running late and inform the person how late you are likely to be. Apologise on arrival, although if a meeting has started then apologise at the appropriate time to the chair person.

If you are a person who is constantly late then start changing your habits and allow more time, plan ahead and begin seeing other people’s time as important as well.