No one likes a meeting that doesn’t start on time. Most of the time, a meeting that starts late means a meeting that finishes late and it can eat up important productivity time and even affect when you and your employees are able to go home. There are so many ways to prevent your meeting from starting later than scheduled. After following these tips, you won’t have any excuse to ever start a meeting at the wrong time again!
1. Make sure everyone involved with the meeting knows when it starts. Also, make sure everyone knows you mean business. State that your meeting will begin promptly at that time and that no excuses for tardiness will be accepted.
2. If possible, remind everyone the morning of or shortly before the meeting. Send out a group email or put a flier in your employees’ mailboxes. Make an announcement if you have a PA system.
3. Even if your meeting starts late, wrap it up at the scheduled time. This will also show your employees you are trying to stick to a schedule and may help them be on time when you have your next meeting.
4. Close the doors to your meeting room and post a sign that says something along the lines of “Do not enter. Meeting in progress.” This will send a clear message to attendees that you will not tolerate lateness.
5. If you are planning to use temporary equipment such as laptop rentals or a projector rental for your meeting, make sure it’s set-up and powered on, ready to be used. Familiarize yourself with the technology so that you do not have to spend the first fifteen minutes of the meeting learning how to show your slides.
6. Finally, be prepared. Have your notes together and rehearsed, and be ready and waiting in the meeting room before your participants arrive.
