Build Trust by Being On Time

I need to let you know how important it is to just be on time.  This is one of the small, seemingly insignificant details that get overlooked in the business of our lives, yet may have a severe impact on your reputation and diminish cooperation and collaboration.  Few people complain about tardiness except when it’s about a delivery or shipment past a due date, but the undercurrents of dissatisfaction really erode trust.  Being on time is really important – so be on time! 

I mean be on time for everything! 

For every appointment…for every delivery…for every meeting…and for every phone call because being on time is a reflection of your trustworthiness, integrity, reliability and work ethic.  Am I exaggerating? Not at all! Just think of the time YOU were kept waiting, or something was delivered late…were you thinking positive and complimentary thoughts about the person or service? 

Being on time is a very powerful way of keeping your word, and your word is what shapes your reputation and trustworthiness.  If you’re on time, or early, people grow their trust in you – and that’s better than money in the bank.  So when something does go wrong, you have built up an account of credibility that you may draw on, and that goes a long way to preserving relationships, retaining clients, and building your confidence. 

Being on time is a sign of respect!  You are honoring another’s time, because their time is just as valuable as yours, if not more so.  Being late is disrespectful – and I wouldn’t want this to ruin your business relationships!  Beware of how easily being late diminishes your credibility, your trustworthiness and affects your relationships. 

Remember, this is the kind of hard work that doesn’t seem to affect the bottom line, but it really does!  How you handle time is vital to your reputation and that of your company.  Make time work for you, and not against you…become a master of time 24/7, and you will stand out from the crowd.  

And let’s face it:  we need to use every opportunity to be cutting edge leaders.