How To Politely Ask To Be On Time?

We all have that friend who is always late to events. There are people who simply tend to overestimate their ability to be in certain places on time and therefore always arrive after everyone else. Research shows that people tend to underestimate their ability to be on time by up to 40%. And people who are often late feel the passage of time differently than people who are always punctual. So how do you make sure that chronically late people show up on time? The first step is mustering enough courage to go up and do the talk. Express how you notice that the person has been coming late and that you are concerned. Follow this up with an offer to help. You decrease the possibility of a defensive or evasive answer if you come from a place of care and compassion. Stick to the facts, focus on the behavior, not the person, and help the other person see what goals and objectives are affected by the frequent tardiness. Don’t bring up examples from the past, but focus on the immediate need to be prompt and punctual. To make sure the other person shows up on time, you can say: “Thank you in advance for coming on time tomorrow. Your timely appearance will be very much appreciated.” As for those instances when the other person is already chronically late, say: “I notice that you have been coming in late the last few days. Is everything OK at home and is there something I can do to help?”