Punctuality in Meetings: A Game Changer

The Problem

Late meetings are a common issue in many workplaces. It's rare to find a meeting that starts on time. This problem is more than just an annoyance. It can greatly reduce the effectiveness of the meeting.

Research shows that meetings that start late are less productive.
They generate fewer ideas and those ideas are less feasible.
The energy and engagement of participants also drop significantly.

Causes and Effects

Meetings often start late because:

People arrive late.
A few people keep talking.

This can happen even if the meeting organizer is present. Once the meeting finally starts, it's hard to regain the lost focus and enthusiasm.

Interestingly, if employees expect meetings to start late, their performance and participation suffer. This happens even if the meeting actually starts on time.

Solutions

Fewer Meetings

Meetings can make people less smart.
They can cause a drop in individual IQ by about 15 percent.
Large meetings can also stifle participation, especially from those who feel they have a lower status.

Mark Cuban, a successful entrepreneur, avoids meetings unless they are absolutely necessary.

Start on Time

For the meetings that do happen, it's crucial to start them on time. Even if some people are late, the meeting should start as scheduled.

Starting late is disrespectful to those who arrived on time.
It also compromises the outcome of the meeting.
Meetings are expensive. The wages of everyone in attendance add up.
If a meeting is worth having, it's worth starting on time.