You usually arrive late at all appointments or meetings. Every two times, you lose the train … This difficulty in respecting a schedule can become chronic and have negative consequences, both on a personal, professional and legal level. Patrice Raps, lecturer and specialist in the subject, gives us the keys to solve this problem.
“It’s systematic, I always arrive a quarter of an hour late for all the appointments,” Ana confesses. “I’ve lost the train a thousand times,” says Roman. “When I look at the bills that have arrived, the payment period has passed,” Júlia laments.
All, once or another, we have had some unfortunate mishap that has made us arrive late. That is not serious, but for some, this behavior is chronic and the consequences can be really problematic.
Chronic delay can be translated into a rejection of commitment
“Chronic delays can be a sign of a problem with the environment,” explains Patrice Ras, lecturer, trainer and specialist in the field. For some, respecting schedules is synonymous with obligation, commitment. And, therefore, they choose not to accept them. However, this organization of time is fundamental for a better social cohesion. Without it, it is impossible to live together!
In the head of the chronic tardones, the schedules deprive them of a certain freedom and spontaneity, and they claim that freedom from the four winds. “Sometimes, it gives the feeling that they do not care, that they believe they are above the law and, on occasion, cause some discomfort in their environment,” adds our expert.
The notion of obligation prevails over the emotion of attending an appointment, or a possible party, or even a meeting. Since for them to stick to a schedule is negative, they develop a rejection, although they are not always aware that they do not respect it.
“This eccentricity also reveals immaturity,” says Patrice Ras. It could derive from the lack of a father figure. In that case, they have no notion of authority. The rejection of an established schedule is accompanied by the fashion of mobiles, which has opened the ban to possible delays at the last minute, without any culpability.
Always arrive late bad time management
Arrive late can also signal poor time management. “Sorting priorities can result in delays in all areas,” says our expert. This is the case of work meetings, for example, in which some arrive when they feel like it, almost always with irrefutable excuses.
Others do not know how to say “no” and they are available although, in reality, they are not! It may be that a neighbor suddenly catches you and entertains you when you have left home, or that someone has called you on the phone, or that you forget the meeting documents at home, or that the train is late … “Have in account the schedules implies organization, to impose a personal schedule so that the bull does not catch us “, remembers Patrice Ras. These delays can also hide certain difficulties when making important decisions.
Chronic delays: sometimes devastating consequences
Over time, delays can exasperate the environment to the point of causing rejection. “That they give you a sit-down is never pleasant and, although one tolerates the delay from time to time, repetition can create real dislikes in every relationship,” says Patrice Ras.
If the situation becomes chronic, it is most likely that people lose patience, which later becomes angry, not feeling respected and that, in the end, always leads to a break.
In addition, these perpetual time differences also have professional consequences, such as loss of credibility. “Felipe was a first-class freelance artistic director, but he always arrived an hour late for meetings,” recalls Marta, who, in the end, chose to stop collaborating with him.
In financial terms, delays also come at a price. “I had to buy a second train ticket a lot of times,” confesses Pablo.
In the end, “this problem can also be seen from another point of view; one ends up taking it with philosophy. As the saying goes, being in the right place at the right time “, summarizes Patrice Ras.
Change is possible!
It can be changed as long as one takes it seriously and is willing to do so. And is that tardiness usually have a double speech. Although they do not have difficulty recognizing their defect, they tend to minimize the consequences, arguing that, after all, it is not so serious. “In addition, they excuse themselves in that they can not remedy it, that time runs against them and many always have a more than logical justification,” adds our expert.
There is no miraculous solution and, as a general rule, only when they lose something or fail they begin to change their behavior. To resort to a behavioral therapy or to an interior work, to begin, can facilitate the understanding of certain processes of sabotage in order to put an end to them.
Do not be late, to practice
- You’re late for an appointment
- Action: Specifically calculate the time it will take to arrive and leave a sufficient margin. Activate any alert on the mobile and leave any activity you have in your hands.
- Advantage: You will gain the appreciation of your friends, who know that you have made a great effort to arrive on time.
- You arrive systematically late to a meeting
- Action: Organize your desk so that the documents of the meeting are visible. Give them priority. But not everything remains here, say no to any telephone or personal intrusion for half an hour before the meeting.
- Advantage: You will gain credibility. This way you will find your place in the work team and you will improve the work environment.
