I received an email last week from a respected individual. The jest of the email was being respectful to one’s coworkers. After a bit of banter the note focused on scheduled meetings where the number of individuals that “showed-up” was considerably less than the number who replied in the affirmative that they would attend. The complaint sited a couple of incidents where refreshments and /or food were ordered. The organizer was stiffed with the bill and a lot of leftovers. Well leftovers are quickly consumed at the office so no harm no foul you say? But did the “no-shows” show any respect? The note went on to say that even in the event of an emergency, you owe the organizer; a phone call, an email, an IM, whatever to let them know that you will not be able to attend.  

 

I’m an analyst by training and I try to see all sides of any given situation. When you organize a meeting and send an invitation do you first check people’s calendars or do you just schedule the meeting at your convenience and expect the invitees to “show-up”. If you are a Manager and the invitees are your sub-ordinates, maybe you have some leverage to compel attendance. But is that respectful?

 

I have had several coworkers complain about double and triple booking. Obviously they need to learn to say no to someone. Just accepting every invitation hoping that things will get sorted out by re-scheduling is not a good answer.

 

I have had a personal experience with a particular individual who would never respond to meeting invitations from anyone other than management. I would check his calendar, he was open, I would schedule the meeting and then I would sit in the conference room waiting. Sometimes he would show up. Other times he would complain that I booked a time when he was not available. I caught him in this little charade a couple of times. He would fill in his calendar at the appointed time after I had invited him. A simple negative response would have been sufficient. His method was very disrespectful.

 

Years ago meetings were expensive, so people scheduled them more sparingly. We had agendas, we stuck to the agenda, minutes were prepared, and results published. I must admit that having Outlook calendars makes it easy to schedule a meeting when a quick IM or phone call would resolve the situation, but now meetings give us time to socialize.

Rarely are there agendas, documents, or respect for people’s time.

 

Rodney Dangerfield and Aretha Franklin made a career and a hit song respectively using the word RESPECT.