I’ve been there. You’re running late because you didn’t allow enough time. STRESS! Driving like a loony or walking like you’re on some speed record attempt and you turn up feeling flustered, hot and bothered and potentially barging into the meeting late like a small whirlwind!
Then the dust settles and you crack on with the meeting.
There is always going to be the odd occasion when it is genuinely not your fault, an accident or such like causing delays, for example.
However, 9 times out of 10, it’s in your control to just leave that little bit earlier and be ready to roll when you get there.
There are a number of benefits to arriving early.
- You avoid the loony look
- You get a good parking spot
- You get time before the meeting to plan you ‘pitch’
- You get time to check the attendee list and plan who you want to speak to
- You get extra networking time with others who have also arrived early
- You give an impression of being super organised and punctual
- You can enjoy an extra cuppa (especially good if it’s a pre-7am meeting!)
I could go on. In a nutshell, there are far more benefits to arriving a little bit early than putting off your journey to the last minute and making it a rushed experience. So plan in time to leave a little early and you’ll enjoy the whole thing far more!
The same also applies to allowing time at the end too… but that’s another blog post! 😉
As always I’d love to hear your experiences and thoughts on this so please join in the conversation below…